10 fatalities

Twin-Engine Aircraft Crash After Takeoff at Gainesville Kills All 10 Occupants (N2999)

Gainesville, United States of AmericaTakeoff (climb)

On February 3, 1964, a Beechcraft D18 (registration N2999) operated by South Central Airlines - SCA was involved in an aviation accident near Gainesville, United States of America during takeoff. 10 people were killed. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The aircraft was improperly loaded and the center of gravity was out of the envelope and too far aft, causing the aircraft to stall after takeoff. Inadequate preflight preparation and/or planning on part of the pilot. This summary draws on records from the Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A); 1 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

Sourcesthe Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A)Primary reportUpdated 2026-06-12Data APIEditorial standards

Shortly after takeoff, a twin-engine aircraft stalled at 200 feet and crashed past the runway at Gainesville Airport. The aircraft was destroyed, and all 10 occupants died. Improper loading and center of gravity issues were cited.

Accident

A twin-engine aircraft departed from runway 06 at Gainesville Airport. During initial climb, after reaching approximately 200 feet above ground level, the aircraft adopted an excessively nose-up attitude, stalled, and subsequently impacted terrain about 80 feet beyond the departure end of the runway. The crash was accompanied by a large explosion. The aircraft was destroyed by impact forces and a post-crash fire. All 10 occupants on board were killed.

Probable Cause

The official investigation determined that the aircraft was improperly loaded, resulting in a center of gravity that was out of the envelope and too far aft. This condition caused the aircraft to stall after takeoff. Additionally, the pilot performed inadequate preflight preparation and/or planning, which contributed to the improper loading.