Beech BE 36 accident near Odell, Illinois, November 29, 1985
On November 29, 1985 at about 6:13 pm local time, a Beech BE 36, registered N3807Z, was destroyed in an accident near Odell, Illinois. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
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 29, 1985 · about 6:13 pm local time
- Place
- Odell, Illinois · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Beech BE 36
- Registration
- N3807Z · no longer on the register · serial E-1794
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT DEPARTED ON AN IFR FLIGHT INTO KNOWN ICING CONDITIONS AFTER RECEIVING THREE COMPLETE WEATHER BRIEFINGS CLEARLY INDICATING THE ICING CONDITIONS WITH NUMEROUS PLT REPORTS OF ICING. APRX 40 MINUTES AFTER DEPARTURE THE PLT REPORTED HE HAD ABOUT AN INCH OF ICE ON THE LEADING EDGE OF THE WINGS. TEN MINUTES LATER WHILE BEING VECTORED TO KANKAKEE AIRPORT, COMMUNICATION WAS LOST. AN OVERFLYING AIRLINER HEARD HIM TRANSMIT 'HE WAS OVER FARMLAND AND WAS PICKING A SPOT.' THE WRECKAGE WAS SPOTTED BY A PASSING MOTORIST SHORTLY THEREAFTER.
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: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 4,000 hours in all; 3 in this make and model; 33 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 3,600 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-520BB (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: 06C Schaumburg IL at 5:15 pm
- Destination: FSM Fort Smith AR
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 010° at 7 knots
- Sky: not recorded
- Temperature: 30°F (-1°C), dew point 28°F (-2°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 5:45 pm from BMI, 36 miles away
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.