What happened
On December 21, 2023, a Hawker Beechcraft Corp G36, registration N23VS, was performing a local flight near Buford, Georgia, when it crashed into terrain. The aircraft departed from Dekalb-Peachtree Airport (PDK) at 1701 EST, initially cruising at 3,000 feet mean sea level (msl) with a groundspeed of approximately 160-170 knots.
About five minutes into the flight, the aircraft's flight track turned northeast toward Lake Lanier. At 1712 EST, the groundspeed decreased to 98 knots, followed by a simultaneous decrease in altitude. The aircraft continued traveling east over the lake. The final recorded position was approximately 0.1 mile north of the accident site, with the aircraft at 100 feet above ground level, traveling at 70 knots in a right turn.
Witnesses near the site observed the airplane flying low over the water before entering a right bank toward a shoreline tree line. The aircraft struck the trees and then descended into a parking lot, where an explosion and large fire occurred. The pilot sustained 1 fatal injury.