Beech A36 accident near Statesville, North Carolina, May 22, 1994
On May 22, 1994 at about 5:06 pm local time, a Beech A36, registered N1551K, was destroyed in an accident near Statesville, 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
A LOSS OF CONTROL FOR UNDETERMINED REASON(s).
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 22, 1994 · about 5:06 pm local time
- Place
- Statesville, North Carolina · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech A36 · all A36s on the register
- Registration
- N1551K · no longer on the register · serial E-2515
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE FLIGHT WAS ON AN IFR FLIGHT PLAN, AND THE WEATHER IN THE VICINITY WAS VFR CONDITIONS. THE PILOT HAD BEEN CLEARED TO DESCEND FROM 9000 FT TO 7000 FT. RADAR DATA SHOWS THAT THE AIRCRAFT DESCENDED TO 7000 FT, LEVELED OFF MOMENTARILY, AND THEN MADE A STEEP RIGHT TURN AND BEGAN A DESCENT. ATTEMPTS TO COMMUNICATE WITH THE PILOT AFTER THE DESCENT WERE UNSUCCESSFUL. THE AIRCRAFT IMPACTED THE TERRAIN AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED IN A NOSE DOWN LEFT TURN. THE WRECKAGE WAS DISTRIBUTED ON A HEADING OF 170 DEG, OVER AN AREA APPROX 540 FT LONG. THERE WERE NO RECORDED INSTANCES OF PRIOR MECHANICAL PROBLEMS WITH THE AUTOPILOT SYSTEM.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,300 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 656 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 7, 1994
- Maximum gross weight: 3,650 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-550-B (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: LHC Arlington TN at 2:21 pm
- Destination: 8A7 Mocksville NC
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 030° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 45°F (7°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 4:50 pm from CLT, 60 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.