Beech A36 accident near Minonk, Illinois, May 9, 1983
On May 9, 1983 at about 6:30 pm local time, a Beech A36, registered N6039Z, was substantially damaged in an accident near Minonk, Illinois (Davidson airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 9, 1983 · about 6:30 pm local time
- Place
- Minonk, Illinois · Davidson · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech A36 · all A36s on the register
- Registration
- N6039Z · registry record · serial E-1490
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT REPORTED THAT DURING TAKEOFF FROM A PRIVATE FARM STRIP, HE HAD ONLY 70 KTS AS HE APCHD THE END OF THE RWY. BY THEN, THERE WAS NOT ENOUGH ROOM TO ABORT & HE BELIEVED THE ACFT HAD INSUFFICIENT AIRSPEED TO CLEAR WIRES ALONG A ROADWAY ABOUT 330 FT FROM THE STRIP. PLOWED GROUND WAS LOCATED BETWEEN THE END OF THE STRIP & THE ROAD & THE TERRAIN SLOPED SLIGHTLY UPWARD IN THAT AREA. THE PLT ELECTED TO FLY BETWEEN THE ROADWAY & THE WIRES. HOWEVER, THE NOSE GEAR STRUCK THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE PLANE CRASHED & CAME TO REST IN ANOTHER PLOWED FIELD BEYOND THE ROAD. AN EXAM OF THE ACFT & ENG REVEALED NO EVIDENCE OF A PREIMPACT, MECHANICAL PROBLEM. A CHECK OF THE RWY REVEALED THAT THE 1ST FEW HUNDRED FEET WAS SOFT & THE GRASS WAS 3 TO 4 INCHES TALL.
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
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,380 hours in all; 500 in this make and model; 52 in the last 90 days; 12 in the last 30 days; 1,380 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 718 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 3, 1982; 91 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,600 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-520-BB (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: SPI Springfield IL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 18, 2,300 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 120° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 63°F (17°C), dew point 39°F (4°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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.