Beech A36 accident near Huggins, Missouri, June 12, 2015
On June 12, 2015 at about 12:00 pm local time, a 1974 Beech A36, registered N3193W, was destroyed in an accident during initial climb near Huggins, Missouri (Private airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 4 people were killed and 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed and his exceedance of the airplane's critical angle-of-attack, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall and loss of control.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 12, 2015 · about 12:00 pm local time
- Place
- Huggins, Missouri · Private · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 4 people were killed and 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech A36 UNDESIGNAT, built 1974 · all A36s on the register
- Registration
- N3193W · no longer on the register · serial E-555
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The private pilot was taking off from a 2,000-ft-long grass runway that had 70-ft tall trees at the south departure end with a clearing about 180 ft west of the runway centerline. A witness reported that he saw the airplane taxi to the north end of the runway and proceed to take off to the south. After takeoff, the airplane began a right turn to the west toward the opening in the tree line. The airplane then pitched up abruptly, rolled left, and dove into the ground. Examination of the airframe and engine did not reveal any anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. GPS data for the flight corroborated the witness report. Additionally, the GPS-recorded speeds indicated that the airplane reached a maximum groundspeed of about 50 knots and that the groundspeed then decreased to 44 knots before impact. The airplane's weight could not be determined, and the airplane flight manual (AFM) did not include power-on stall speeds. However, based on the power-off stall speed information contained in the AFM, it is likely that the pilot failed to maintain adequate airspeed and exceeded the airplane's critical angle-of–attack, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall and subsequent loss of control.
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
- Aerodynamic stall/spin during initial climb defining event
- Loss of control in flight during initial climb
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during uncontrolled descent
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Airspeed › Not attained/maintained
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Angle of attack › Not attained/maintained
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,527 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 3, 2014
- Maximum gross weight: 3,651 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-520-BA (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: PVT Huggins MO at 12:00 pm
- Destination: PVU Provo UT
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 18, 2,000 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 190° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 77°F (25°C), dew point 73°F (23°C)
- Altimeter: 29.85 inHg
- Observation at 11:58 am from TBN, 24 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 | 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.