Beech A36 accident near Greensboro, North Carolina, October 17, 1983
On October 17, 1983 at about 4:08 pm local time, a Beech A36, registered N38234, was substantially damaged in an accident near Greensboro, North Carolina. It was an executive or corporate flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. 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
- October 17, 1983 · about 4:08 pm local time
- Place
- Greensboro, North Carolina
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech A36 · all A36s on the register
- Registration
- N38234 · no longer on the register · serial E-1779
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Executive or corporate flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT LOST POWER DURING THE CLIMB TO CRUISE. THE PLT MADE A FORCED LANDING AND COLLIDED WITH TREES. THE FUEL SELECTORWAS ON THE EMPTY LEFT TANK. THE RIGHT TANK CONTAINED 20 GALLONS OF FUEL. THE PLT DID NOT CHECK THE FUEL SELECTOR PRIOR TO TAKEOFF AND DID NOT REFUEL THE ACFT. THE LAST RECORD OF FUELING WAS ON 9/20/83. THERE WAS NO RECORD OF FLTS OR FLT TIME SINCE THAT DATE. AFTER THE POWER LOSS THE PLT RECALLED TURNING ON THE BOOSTER PUMP BUT DOES NOT RECALL CHANGING THEFUEL SELECTOR. AFTER THE ACCIDENT THERE WAS NO FUEL IN THE FUEL LINES BEING USED. THE ENGINE WAS SUCCESSFULLY RUN AFTER 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: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,220 hours in all; 750 in this make and model; 20 in the last 90 days; 842 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 748 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 30, 1983; 59 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,600 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-520-BB (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: GSO Greensboro NC
- Destination: W27 Smithfield NC
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 250° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
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.
Other NTSB records under N38234 the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.