Beechcraft A36 N236JS
26 December 1991 · Wilmington, Ohio, United States · Fatal
Summary
On 26 December 1991 at about 01:48 local time, a Beechcraft A36 registered N236JS, operated by John E. Schweller, was involved in an accident near Wilmington, Ohio, United States. 5 people were on board and 3 died, 2 were seriously injured. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.
The record
- Date
- at 01:48
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Wilmington, Ohio, United States
- Nearest airport
- Lumberton (OH77)
- Coordinates
- 39.4397, -83.8298
- Aircraft
- Beechcraft A36
- Registration
- N236JS
- Category
- Airplane
- Engines
- 1
- Operator
- John E. Schweller
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Personal
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Aircraft damage
- Destroyed
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Night/Dark
- NTSB number
- NYC92FA050
People
3 people died.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
Probable cause
THE FAILURE OF THE PILOTS TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE TERRAIN CLEARANCE. FACTORS WHICH CONTRIBUTED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: THE NIGHT CONDITIONS, REDUCED VISIBILITY DUE TO FOG, AND THE LIKELIHOOD THAT THE PILOTS DIVERTED THEIR ATTENTION TO THE OPERATION OF THE LORAN EQUIPMENT.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
THE ACFT WAS ON A LOCAL NIGHT FLIGHT TO SEE THE XMAS LIGHTS OF DAYTON FROM THE AIR. A PAX STATED THAT WHEN SHE THOUGHT THEY WERE GOING TO LAND THE ACFT HIT TREES. THERE WAS NO UNUSUAL ENGINE SOUND, OR ANYTHING DIFFERENT FROM OTHER FLIGHTS. THE ACCIDENT OCCURED ABOUT 1 MI FROM THE AIRPORT. THE LEFT SEAT PILOT WAS NOT INSTRUMENT-RATED. THE RIGHT SEAT PILOT WAS THE ACFT OWNER, AND WAS INSTRUMENT RATED. THE PILOT OPERATING THE CONTROLS AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT WAS NOT DETERMINED. THERE ARE NO FAA-APPROVED APPROACHES FOR THE ARPT; HOWEVER, THE OWNER HAD DESIGNED A LORAN-C APPROACH AND TWO R-NAV APPROACHES FOR PERSONAL USE. THE ACTIVE WAYPOINT FOUND IN THE ACFT'S LORAN UNIT COINCIDED WITH THE ARPT. THE OWNER WAS DESCRIBED AS A PERSON WHO ' WAS PROUD OF, AND WOULD BE EAGER TO SHOW OTHER PILOTS FLYING THE AIRPLANE, THE PROCEDURES FOR USE OF THE EQUIPMENT INSTALLED.'
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Beechcraft A36 accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 16 May 1991 | Beechcraft A36 | Rawlins, Wyoming, United States | John L. Ronacher | No injuries | - |
| 11 Apr 1991 | Beechcraft A36 | Punta Gorda, Florida, United States | Braukman & Sullivan | No injuries | - |
| 10 Dec 1991 | Beechcraft A36 | Rensselaer, Indiana, United States | Rose Acre Farms | Fatal | 1 |
| 15 May 1991 | Beechcraft A36 | Caldwell, Texas, United States | Airtech Avionics, Inc. | Fatal | 2 |
| 1 Jun 1991 | Beechcraft A36 | Lakeview, Arkansas, United States | Sound-Craft Systems, Inc. | Fatal | 4 |
| 27 Oct 1991 | Beechcraft A36 | Marble Falls, Texas, United States | REX L. & Kathleen A Repass | Fatal | 2 |
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 Jul 1991 | Learjet LR25B-XR | Columbus, Ohio, United States | New Creations, Inc. | No injuries | - |
| 5 Jul 1991 | Cessna 172 | Millville, Ohio, United States | GO Leasing Company | No injuries | - |
| 5 Jul 1991 | Bellanca 8KCAB | Pomeroy, Ohio, United States | Charles K. Gard | Serious injuries | - |
| 21 Jul 1991 | Cessna A185F | Vernon, Ohio, United States | George H. Siegel | Minor injuries | - |
| 7 Jul 1991 | Cessna 182 | Xenia, Ohio, United States | Skydive Green County | No injuries | - |
| 20 Jul 1991 | Beechcraft B90 | Waynesville, Ohio, United States | West Tennessee Skydivers | Serious injuries | - |