Beech A36 accident near Salina, Kansas, October 18, 2008
On October 18, 2008 at about 7:02 pm local time, a Beech A36, registered N3112Y, was substantially damaged in an accident during approach (VFR pattern final) near Salina, Kansas (Salina Municipal Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to properly manage the available fuel supply, which resulted in fuel starvation and subsequent loss of engine power.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 18, 2008 · about 7:02 pm local time · cases in 2008
- Place
- Salina, Kansas · Salina Municipal Airport · cases near this airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech A36 · all A36s on the register
- Registration
- N3112Y · registry record · serial E-2410
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The private pilot was on final approach in his single-engine airplane when the engine stopped producing power shortly after he switched fuel tanks. The pilot was unable to restart the engine and made a forced landing on a road near the airport. Examination of the airplane revealed structural damage to the firewall near the left engine mount. When baterry power was applied, the left fuel guage indicated it was empty and the right fuel tank was between 1/4- and 1/2-full. No mechanical deficiencie were noted with the airplane or engine.
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
What happened, in order
- Fuel starvation during approach (VFR pattern final) defining event
- Loss of engine power (total) during approach (VFR pattern final)
- Off-field or emergency landing during emergency descent
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Planning/preparation › Fuel planning › Pilot
- cause Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware › Fluids › Fuel › Fluid level other cases naming the fuel system
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 260 hours in all; 31 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3
The aircraft
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Cont Motor IO-550 SERIES (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Uknown
- Destination: KSLN Salina KS
- Flight plan: not recorded
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 330° at 16 knots, gusting 20
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 66°F (19°C), dew point 43°F (6°C)
- Altimeter: 30.21 inHg
- Observation at 7:53 pm from KSLN
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The NTSB has not released the docket for this case yet. The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), is usually released when the investigation is nearly complete, and the list here is refreshed when it appears. Check at the NTSB.
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N3112Y on the register today · the tail number may have moved to another aircraft since
- Beechcraft A36 Bonanza 2,530 registered today · the model family and its accident history
- Beechcraft 6 aircraft on the register
- Engine: Cont Motor IO-550 SERIES 3,077 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Salina Regional · nearest airport
- Accidents and incidents in Kansas 1,147 since 1982 · 150 in the last ten years
- Kansas 5,731 aircraft registered
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/CEN09CA038.json.
The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.
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 does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.