Beech A-36 accident near Chapel Hill, North Carolina, August 12, 1989
On August 12, 1989 at about 1:18 am local time, a Beech A-36, registered N25805, was destroyed in an accident near Chapel Hill, North Carolina. 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 PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE WHILE MANEUVERING FOR A LANDING. CONTRIBUTING FACTORS WERE: THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO FOLLOW THE EMERGENCY PROCEDURES FOR AN AUTOPILOT MALFUNCTION, AND PILOT FATIGUE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 12, 1989 · about 1:18 am local time
- Place
- Chapel Hill, North Carolina
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech A-36 · all A-36s on the register
- Registration
- N25805 · no longer on the register · serial E2310
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
AT 2028, AFTER A MISSED APCH AT DESTINATION, THE PLT REPORTED HE COULDN'T GET THE AUTOPILOT OFF & WAS FIGHTING HARD TO CONTROL THE AIRPLANE. ATC OFFERED SUGGESTIONS TO DISENGAGE AUTOPILOT, INCLUDING TURNING OFF MASTER SWITCH; PLT REPORTED NO CHANGE. DURING THE NEXT 45 MINUTES THE PILOT WAS PROVIDED VECTORS AND ASSISTANCE; PLT FREQUENTLY DID NOT RESPOND TO INSTRUCTIONS. FINAL VECTORS WERE TO CHAPEL HILL AIRPORT; RADAR DATA LOST. WRECKAGE ORIENTED OVER AN AREA OF A NORMAL BASE TO RWY 8. ELEVATOR TRIM WAS FOUND IN A FULL TAB-UP (NOSE-DOWN) POSITION. APRX 45 LBS OF STICK FORCE WOULD BE NECESSARY TO HOLD THE AIRPLANE LEVEL. THE APPROVED FLIGHT MANUAL SUPPLEMENT FOR THE KING KFC 200 AUTOPILOT SYSTEM CONTAINED EMERGENCY PROCEDURES FOR AUTOPILOT/ELECTRIC TRIM MALFUNCTIONS. THESE PROCEDURES REQUIRE THAT THE AIRCRAFT BE RETRIMMED MANUALLY.
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: 1,200 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 314 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, January 18, 1989; 10 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,650 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-520-BB (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: ISO Kinston NC at 11:56 pm
- Destination: W27 Smithfield NC
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 020° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 3 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 900 ft; not recorded at 900 ft
- Temperature: 66°F (19°C), dew point 63°F (17°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 1:50 am from RDU, 20 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.