Beech E18S accident near Elyria, Ohio, July 19, 1988
On July 19, 1988 at about 8:21 pm local time, a Beech E18S, registered N136JR, was substantially damaged in an accident near Elyria, Ohio (Lorain County Reg. airport). It was a positioning 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
- July 19, 1988 · about 8:21 pm local time
- Place
- Elyria, Ohio · Lorain County Reg. · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech E18S · all E18Ss on the register
- Registration
- N136JR · no longer on the register · serial BA-318
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Positioning flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING THE TAKEOFF ROLL, THE RIGHT ENGINE 'SURGED'. THE PILOT WAS UNABLE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT, AND THE AIRCRAFT SWERVED TO THE RIGHT, DEPARTED THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE RUNWAY, STRUCK A DITCH AND GROUNDLOOPED, COLLAPSING THE LEFT MAIN LANDING GEAR. INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT THE FUEL SYSTEM FOR THE RIGHT ENGINE CONTAINED WATER.
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: airline transport pilot, flight instructor
- Ratings: multi-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 23,000 hours in all; 600 in this make and model; 180 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 12,794 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, June 2, 1988; 12 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 9,700 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: P&W R-985-AN14B (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Rhoades Aviation
The flight
- Destination: BAK Columbus IN
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 7, 4,997 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 360° at 11 knots
- Visibility: 6 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 2,200 ft
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 70°F (21°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 9:41 pm from CLE, 15 miles away
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.