Beech A36 accident near Amarillo, Texas, June 4, 2022
On June 4, 2022 at about 2:00 pm local time, a 1978 Beech A36, registered N9087S, was substantially damaged in an accident during approach (IFR final approach) near Amarillo, Texas (Tradewind Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The loss of engine power due to a leak in the fuel control assembly. Contributing to the accident was the inadequate maintenance of the fuel control assembly.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 4, 2022 · about 2:00 pm local time · cases in 2022
- Place
- Amarillo, Texas · Tradewind Airport · cases near this airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Beech A36, built 1978 · all A36s on the register
- Registration
- N9087S · no longer on the register · serial E-1299
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot stated that during a nonprecision instrument approach to the destination airport, he applied full engine power when he noticed that the airplane airspeed was decreasing. He realized that the engine lost power and was unsuccessful in attempts at regaining engine power. He performed a forced landing on a pasture during which the airplane sustained substantial damage that included damage to the right wing. A postaccident examination of the wreckage revealed streaks fuel on the left side of the engine cowling. An examination of the engine revealed the fuel control assembly was leaking at the mixture control shaft’s O-ring. The O-ring was intact and did not exhibit separation. However, the outside diameter of the O-ring was less than the diameter of the mixture control shaft consistent with wear. A leak within the fuel control assembly would have allowed air to enter/fuel to exit the assembly resulting in improper fuel metering and a loss of engine power. No other mechanical anomalies were noted with the airframe and engine that would have precluded normal operations. Maintenance records showed that the last overhaul of the fuel control assembly was performed during an engine overhaul in 1996. There were no subsequent records or evidence that indicated the assembly was overhauled after 1996. The engine manufacturer’s recommended time between overhaul (TBO) was 12 years. The engine manufacturer’s standard practice manual stated that engine accessories must be overhauled at the time of engine overhaul. The engine and fuel control assembly exceeded the engine manufacturer’s recommended TBO.
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
- Aircraft maintenance event during prior to flight
- Powerplant sys/comp malf/fail during approach (IFR final approach) defining event
- Loss of engine power (total) during approach (IFR final approach)
- Loss of engine power (total) during emergency descent
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Engine fuel and control › Fuel control/carburetor › Not serviced/maintained other cases naming the engine
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Maintenance › Scheduled/routine maintenance › Maintenance personnel
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Record › keeping › Aircraft/maintenance logs › Not specified
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 529 hours in all; 21 in this make and model; 17 in the last 90 days; 12 in the last 30 days; 500 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: June 4, 2020
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,148.0 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 1, 2021
- Maximum gross weight: 3,600 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental Motors IO 520-BA (piston); 1,457 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: OJC Olathe KS at 11:00 am
- Destination: TDW Amarillo TX
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 35, 5,098 ft by 60 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 210° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 400 ft; clear at 400 ft
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 59°F (15°C)
- Altimeter: 29.95 inHg
- Observation at 8:53 am from AMA, 7 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Photographs from the investigation 4 pictures from the NTSB's docket, as the NTSB released them
Photo 1: AircraŌ Wreckage of N9087S (Source – Federal AviaƟon AdministraƟon)
Photo 2: LeŌ Side Engine Cowl (Source – Federal AviaƟon AdministraƟon)
Photo 3: Fuel Control Assembly (Source – NTSB IIC)
Photo 4: Fuel Control Assembly Control Arm ShaŌ (Source – NTSB IIC)The NTSB's photographs with the NTSB's captions, at screen size. Open a picture to see it full size or to report one that should not be shown.
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
6 documents, released by the NTSB on January 31, 2024. 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 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Record of Examination - Fuel Control Assembly | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Engine Logbook Excerpts | PDF, 8 pages | View Download |
| 4 | Teledyne Continental Motors Engine Component Information Sheet | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 5 | Teledyne Continental Motors Standard Practice Maintenance Manual | PDF, 5 pages | View Download |
| 6 | Photos | PDF, 4 pages · our copy | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N9087S: not on the register today · the record of its deregistration
- Beechcraft A36 Bonanza 2,530 registered today · the model family and its accident history
- Beechcraft 6 aircraft on the register
- Engine: Continental Motors IO 520-BA 25 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Tradewind Airport · nearest airport
- Johnson County Executive · departed from
- Accidents and incidents in Texas 6,244 since 1982 · 1,064 in the last ten years
- Texas 29,966 aircraft registered
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/CEN22LA233.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.