Beech A36 accident near Morrisville, North Carolina, May 17, 2004
On May 17, 2004 at about 1:16 am local time, a Beech A36, registered N4550S, was substantially damaged in an accident near Morrisville, North Carolina (Raleigh-Durham International airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The failure of the engine for undetermined reasons resulting in the aircraft colliding with powerlines and the ground during the subsequent forced landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 17, 2004 · about 1:16 am local time
- Place
- Morrisville, North Carolina · Raleigh-Durham International · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech A36 · all A36s on the register
- Registration
- N4550S · no longer on the register · serial E735
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The flight departed Daytona Beach International Airport enroute to Wilmington International Airport, where the passengers were to deplane. The pilot performed a visual inspection of the airplane, checked the fuel tanks and verifyed that they were full before taking off from Daytona Beach. Two passengers stated that the flight from Daytona Beach to Wilmington was approximately two and a half hours long. Upon arriving in Wilmington, the pilot did not shut down the engine, but deplaned the passengers and continued the flight to Raleigh-Durham International Airport. The pilot established radio contact with the FAA Raleigh Approach Control and was provided flight following service for the flight. When the flight arrived within range of the airport, the pilot was given radar vectors to the final approach course for runway 23L. A review of radar data showed that when the airplane was 1.37 miles from the runway, the airplane was about 800 feet mean sea level. At the same time the pilot reported to the controller that he had a problem. Seconds later, the pilot reported that he had lost his engine. This was the last radio transmission from the pilot. Examination of the accident site revealed that two broken power lines located along the wreckage path. The main wreckage was located inverted in a creek 4,800 feet on an extended centerline on the approach side for runway 23L. Postcrash examination and testing of the aircraft structure, flight controls, systems, engine, and propeller showed no evidence of precrash anomalies. The fuel lines were found severed at the wing roots.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 815 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,161 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 1, 2003; 240 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,600 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-520 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: ILM Wilmington NC at 11:45 pm
- Destination: RDU Raleigh-Durham NC
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 23L, 7,500 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 66°F (19°C), dew point 66°F (19°C)
- Altimeter: 30.27 inHg
- Observation at 1:15 am from RDU
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.