Beech 36 accident near Williamston, North Carolina, April 26, 1999
On April 26, 1999 at about 1:26 pm local time, a Beech 36, registered N31291, was substantially damaged in an accident near Williamston, North Carolina (Martin County Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's inadequate evaluation of winds that resulted in the loss of directional control during an attempted takeoff with a tailwind. A factor was the tailwind condition.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 26, 1999 · about 1:26 pm local time
- Place
- Williamston, North Carolina · Martin County Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech 36 · all 36s on the register
- Registration
- N31291 · registry record · serial E-2432
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that during the takeoff roll he experienced a wind gust, and the left wing came up. The pilot elected to abort the takeoff. As the airplane settled back on the runway, it bounced, and veered off the left side of runway 3. No mechanical problems with the airplane were reported by the pilot. A review of existing weather data disclosed that the prevailing winds were 300 degrees at 9 knots. Other sources reported that the winds were out of the southwest at 10 knots. Examination of the pilot's certification data revealed that his medical certificate had expired.
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: 386 hours in all; 43 in this make and model; 43 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Unknown (expired)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,096 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 3,650 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-550-B (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: MCZ at 1:24 pm
- Destination: Raleigh NC
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 3, 3,696 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 200° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 20,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 68°F (20°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 1:48 pm from RWI
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
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.