It was not going to be a good day for the 20 passengers and three crew members who boarded the Atlantic Southeast Airlines Embraer EMB-120RT. On its final approach the aircraft rolled left, then crashed nose-down.

Among the victims were John Tower, U. S. Senator from Texas, Navy Captain Manley Lanier "Sonny" Carter , a U. S. astronaut born in Macon, and Davis Love, Sr., a professional golfer.