Beech 36 accident near Cincinnati, Ohio, April 16, 2020
On April 16, 2020 at about 3:45 pm local time, a 1996 Beech 36, registered N66FN, was substantially damaged in an accident during enroute (cruise) near Cincinnati, Ohio. 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
A loose fuel inlet fitting on the fuel pump due to improper maintenance, which resulted in a total loss of engine power.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 16, 2020 · about 3:45 pm local time
- Place
- Cincinnati, Ohio · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech 36 A36, built 1996 · all 36s on the register
- Registration
- N66FN · no longer on the register · serial E-2981
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
During a descent to his destination, the pilot noticed an "unusual" vibration. After checking the engine analyzer, he noticed that one of the engine cylinders was not producing an exhaust gas temperature (EGT) reading. A few moments later, another cylinder EGT dropped offline, then a third cylinder. Cylinder EGTs continued to drop offline then the engine "quit." The pilot maneuvered the airplane over a populated area and landed on a roadway. Upon landing, the airplane struck obstacles along the roadway and came to rest underneath a concrete overpass. The wings and fuselage sustained substantial damage. Examination of the engine revealed that both the fuel inlet and fuel return line fittings on the fuel pump were loose and could be turned by hand. No adjacent impact damage was noted around the loose fittings. The fuel pump had been removed and replaced 2 days prior to the accident. The loose fuel inlet fitting likely resulted in the loss of engine power.
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 engine power (total) during enroute (cruise) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Maintenance › Replacement › Maintenance personnel
- Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Fuel system › (general) › Incorrect service/maintenance
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,557 hours in all; 318 in this make and model; 23 in the last 90 days; 4 in the last 30 days; 1,448 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: April 7, 2018
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,204 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 28, 2020; 40 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,651 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-550B (piston); 1,204 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: UMP Indianapolis IN at 3:45 pm
- Destination: LUK Cincinnatti OH
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 240° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 45°F (7°C), dew point 21°F (-6°C)
- Altimeter: 30.36 inHg
- Observation at 4:20 pm from LUK, 7 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
4 documents, released by the NTSB on April 20, 2022. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | NTSB Form 6120 Pilot Operator Report CEN20LA148 | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Memorandum for the Record Engine Examination Findings CEN20LA148 | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Maintenance Records CEN20LA148 | PDF, 3 pages | View Download |
| 4 | Photo Array CEN20LA148 | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.