Beech A36 accident near Columbus, Ohio, November 5, 1983
On November 5, 1983 at about 2:40 pm local time, a Beech A36, registered N6739U, was substantially damaged in an accident near Columbus, Ohio (Port Columbus Int'L airport). It was a business 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
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
- November 5, 1983 · about 2:40 pm local time
- Place
- Columbus, Ohio · Port Columbus Int'L · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech A36 · all A36s on the register
- Registration
- N6739U · registry record · serial E-1591
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
ON THE RETURN FLT TO COLUMBUS, OH, THE ALTERNATOR WARNING LIGHT WAS ON. AFTER RECYCLING THE SWITCH, THE PLT SHUT DOWN ALL ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT. DURING ARRIVAL AT THE DESTINATION, THE PLT PUT THE GEAR HANDLE DOWN, BUT NOTED A DIM UNSAFE GEAR LIGHT & A DISCHARGE INDICATION ON THE AMMETER. THE PLT STATED THAT SHE TRIED TO EXTEND THE GEAR MANUALLY. HOWEVER, DURING THE LANDING, THE NOSE & RIGHT MAIN GEAR COLLAPSED, THE ACFT SWERVED TO THE RIGHT & STRUCK A RWY LIGHT. THE ALTERNATOR & VOLTAGE REGISLATOR WEREREMOVED & TESTED, BUT BOTH OPERATED SATISFACTORILY. THEY WERE REINSTALLED ON THE ACFT & OPERATED AT DIFFERENT LOAD CONDITIONS, BUT STILL OPERATED NORMALLY. ALSO, THE EMERGENCY LANDING GEAR EXTENSION SYS WAS TESTED & WAS FOUND TO OPERATE NORMALLY.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 4,237 hours in all; 1,903 in this make and model; 242 in the last 90 days; 4,086 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,198 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded, August 17, 1983
- Maximum gross weight: 3,600 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-520 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: FWA Ft. Wayne IN at 1:33 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 28, 10,700 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 320° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 3,500 ft; not recorded at 3,500 ft
- Temperature: 39°F (4°C), dew point 27°F (-3°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 2:50 pm from CMH
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.