Beech A-36 accident near Nashville, Tennessee, April 2, 1988
On April 2, 1988 at about 3:30 pm local time, a Beech A-36, registered N7243B, was substantially damaged in an accident near Nashville, Tennessee (Nashville airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 5 people were on board or involved. 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
- April 2, 1988 · about 3:30 pm local time
- Place
- Nashville, Tennessee · Nashville · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 5 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech A-36 · all A-36s on the register
- Registration
- N7243B · no longer on the register · serial 80-2259
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT ABORTED A TAKEOFF AFTER HE FELT THAT THE AIRCRAFT WAS NOT PERFORMING PROPERLY. THE PILOT HAD FOUR PASSENGERS ON BOARD WHICH PUT THE AIRCRAFT NEAR ITS GROSS WEIGHT. THE RUNWAY WAS 4300 FEET LONG AND THE PILOT NEEDED ABOUT 1100 FEET OF RUNWAY FOR THE AIRCRAFT CONFIGURATION AND PREVAILING WINDS. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT ALL AIRCRAFT SYSTEMS WERE OPERATING PROPERLY PRIOR TO THE ATTEMPTED TAKEOFF. THE PLT REPORTED THAT THE ACFT DEVELOPED ABOUT 30 INCHES OF MANIFOLD PRESSURE DURING THE ROLL BUT DID NOT FEEL RIGHT. THE TOWER REPORTED THAT THE ACFT ROTATED AND THEN BOUNCED BACK ON THE RWY. THE ACFT CONTINUED PAST THE OVERRUN AND DAMAGED THE LANDING GEAR.
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: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 299 hours in all; 3 in this make and model; 33 in the last 90 days; 183 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 382 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 20, 1988; 64 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,650 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-550-B (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: Ft. Meyers FL
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 20L, 4,300 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 220° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 4,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 4 |
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.