Beech A36 accident near Fayette, Alabama, May 26, 1984
On May 26, 1984 at about 11:49 pm local time, a Beech A36, registered N1836D, was destroyed in an accident near Fayette, Alabama. 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 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
- May 26, 1984 · about 11:49 pm local time
- Place
- Fayette, Alabama · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech A36 · all A36s on the register
- Registration
- N1836D · no longer on the register · serial E1912
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH THE GROUND IN A NEAR VERTICAL NOSE DOWN ATTITUDE AFTER BEING OBSERVED BY WITNESSES TO PITCH DOWN DURING CRUISE FLT. THIS ACFT & PLT FLEW EARLIER IN THE DAY WITH AN INSTRUCTOR WHO HAD TO RECOVER CONTROL OF THE ACFT AFTER THE PLT ALLOWED IT TO ENTER AN UNCOMMANDED SPIRAL. THE RADIO TRANSCRIPT OF THAT FLT CONTAINED, 'PROBLEMS WITH THE HSI WE, AH, NEED TO COME BACK.' THE PLT HAD BEEN SCHEDULED TO GO TO LOUISVILLE BUT THE FLT WAS CANCELED. LATER THE SAME DAY THE PLT/OWNER RETURNED TO THE ARPT, SAID HE HAD READ ABOUT THE HSI SYSTEM AND WANTED TO RESET IT AND FLY. SHORTLY INTO THE FLT THE PLT RADIOED THAT HIS AUTOPLT WAS 'STUCK IT IS TAKING MAIN STRENGTH TO HOLT IT.' HE SAID HE WANTED TO TALK TO SOMEONE WHO KNEW ABOUT THE BONANZA TO 'SEE WHAT HE COULD DO.' IF THE AUTOPLT DISCONNECTS AN AUDIBLE SOUND IS HEARD. NO SUCH SOUND WAS HEARD ON THE TAPES. AFTER THE ACCIDENT THE TRIM TABS WERE FOUND IN THE FULL NOSE DOWN POSITION.A PLT WHO HAD FLOWN THIS ACFT THE DAY BEFORE SAID THE AUTOPLT WOULD NOT DISCONNECT USING THE MODE OFF SWITCH.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 330 hours in all; 305 in this make and model; 12 in the last 90 days; 7 in the last 30 days; 139 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,185 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, March 26, 1984; 80 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,600 lb
- Seats: 5
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-520-BB (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: BHM Birmingham AL at 9:51 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 040° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 11:49 pm from BHM, 47 miles away
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.