Beech A36 accident near Gulfport, Mississippi, December 3, 1983
On December 3, 1983, a Beech A36, registered N36MP, was destroyed in an accident near Gulfport, Mississippi (Gulfport/Biloxi airport). It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 3 people were killed and 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 3, 1983
- Place
- Gulfport, Mississippi · Gulfport/Biloxi · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 3 people were killed and 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Beech A36 · all A36s on the register
- Registration
- N36MP · registry record · serial E1979
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
PRIOR TO THE APPROACH THE PLT WAS ADVISED THAT THE WX WAS SKY OBSCURED & VISIBILITY 1/4 MI IN FOG. THE PLT ACKNOWLEDGED 'ROGER WE'LL COME ON IN AND GIVE IT A SHOT.' THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH TREES ABOUT 500 FT SHORT OF THE MIDDLE MARKER. IT WAS REPORTED THAT THE OWNERS OF THE ACFT (PASSENGERS) WERE RETURNING TO GULFPORT TO ATTEND A SCHEDULED SOCIAL FUNCTION ON THE EVENING OF THE ACCIDENT.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 430 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 17, 1983; 30 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,600 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-520-BB (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: MSY New Orleans LA
- Destination: 6PT
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 13, 9,002 ft by 152 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 140° at 10 knots
- Sky: not recorded at 100 ft
- Temperature: 66°F (19°C), dew point 66°F (19°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 | 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.