Beechcraft C23 N6005T

Summary

On 19 April 1997 at about 05:27 local time, a Beechcraft C23 registered N6005T, operated by SAM H. Morton, was involved in an accident near Athens, Georgia, United States. One person was on board and one died. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

19 April 1997 at 05:27

Classification

Accident

Location

Athens, Georgia, United States

Coordinates

33.9103, -83.3192

Aircraft

Beechcraft C23

Registration

N6005T

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

SAM H. Morton

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Unknown

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Jefferson → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ATL97FA060

1 person died.

pilot impairment of judgment and performance, due to alcohol; and his failure to maintain sufficient altitude or clearance from obstacles, while maneuvering at low altitude at night. Darkness was a related factor.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

An eyewitness near the accident site reported that an airplane was flying low over the city minutes before the accident. Another witness heard the sound of the engine, followed by the crashing sound of the airplane as it collided with trees and a house. According to the owner, at 2100, he parked the airplane (N6005T) on the ramp in front of the maintenance facility. The following morning, the owner arrived at the maintenance facility, and could not find his airplane. After learning of an aircraft accident in a nearby city, the owner traveled to the accident site and discovered that the accident airplane was his. Examination of the airframe failed to disclose a mechanical malfunction or a subsystem failure. Toxicology tests of the pilot revealed a blood/alcohol level of 180 mg/dl (0.180%) and an alcohol level of 245 mg/dl (0.245%) in vitreous fluid. The owner of the airplane stated that the keys for N6005T were still in his possession. The keys recovered from the ignition switch of N6005T showed an 'N' number of 6623P.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.