Beech A36 accident near Lidderdale, Iowa, June 13, 2010
On June 13, 2010 at about 11:00 pm local time, a Beech A36, registered N6036U, was destroyed in an accident during enroute (cruise) near Lidderdale, Iowa. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's decision to initiate the flight in marginal weather conditions and his loss of aircraft control.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 13, 2010 · about 11:00 pm local time
- Place
- Lidderdale, Iowa · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech A36 · all A36s on the register
- Registration
- N6036U · no longer on the register · serial E-1422
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot contacted flight service stations on three occasions prior to the accident flight and obtained weather briefings for the visual flight rules (VFR) flight. During each of the weather briefings, the pilot was informed that VFR flight was not recommended due to instrument meteorological conditions that existed along the proposed route. Despite this information, the pilot departed for the flight. The airplane subsequently impacted a farm field about 62 nautical miles from the departure airport, about 1-1/2 hours after the pilot obtained the last weather briefing. Weather conditions recorded at an airport 4 nautical miles from the accident site included an overcast ceiling at 1,100 feet above ground level. The pilot did not have an instrument rating associated with his pilot certificate. A postaccident examination of the airplane revealed no preimpact anomalies with respect to the airframe, engine or airplane systems. The dimensions of the debris field, about 1,000 feet in length, and the T-shaped ground scar at the initial impact point, was indicative of the airplane impacting the ground in a wings level attitude at a high rate of speed, which was consistent with an attempted recovery from a dive.
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
- Loss of control in flight during enroute (cruise) defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during uncontrolled descent
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Decision making/judgment › Pilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › (general) › Not attained/maintained
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Ceiling/visibility/precip › Low ceiling › Effect on operation
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 900 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 3,600 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Cont Motor IO 550-B (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: AXA Algona IA
- Destination: LLU Lamar MO
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 020° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 1,100 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 68°F (20°C), dew point 63°F (17°C)
- Altimeter: 29.98 inHg
- Observation at 11:00 pm from CIN, 4 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.