Beech A23 accident near Russellville, Alabama, February 27, 1986
On February 27, 1986 at about 10:10 pm local time, a Beech A23, registered N3536R, was substantially damaged in an accident near Russellville, Alabama. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed and 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
- February 27, 1986 · about 10:10 pm local time
- Place
- Russellville, Alabama · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed and 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech A23 · all A23s on the register
- Registration
- N3536R · no longer on the register · serial M694
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
OUTBOARD HALF OF ONE PROPELLER BLADE SEPARATED DURING CRUISE FLIGHT. DURING THE SUBSEQUENT FORCED LANDING ATTEMPT THE ACFT STRUCK TREES, SEVERING THE RIGHT WING, AND CRASHED INVERTED. FRONT OCCUPANT SEATS SEPARATED FROM SEAT TRACKS. EXAMINATION OF PROPELLER REVEALED FATIGUE FAILURE WHICH RESULTED FROM CORROSION PITTING UNDER THE PREVIOUSLY INSTALLED PROPELLER DECAL. FAA AD 66-23-02 DIRECTED REMOVAL OF THE DECAL, CLEANING OF THE PROPELLER BLADE, AND INSPECTION OF THE PROPELLER BLADE FOR CORROSION PITS. ACFT HAD AN ANNUAL INSPECTION ON APRIL 29, 1985.
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: 116 hours in all; 38 in this make and model; 36 in the last 90 days; 8 in the last 30 days; 77 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 29, 1985
- Maximum gross weight: 2,355 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental IO-346-A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: HSP Hot Springs AR
- Destination: M22 Russellville AL
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 350° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 4,500 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 50°F (10°C), dew point 36°F (2°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 9:50 pm from MSL, 25 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 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.