Beech A36TC accident near Greencastle, Indiana, September 30, 1989
On September 30, 1989, a Beech A36TC, registered N2YS, was destroyed in an accident near Greencastle, Indiana (Putnam City airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 3 people were killed and 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN PROPER ALTITUDE DURING A VISUAL APPROACH AT DUSK. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: LIGHT CONDITIONS AT DUSK, THE PILOT'S VISUAL PERCEPTION, AND THE TREES.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 30, 1989
- Place
- Greencastle, Indiana · Putnam City · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 3 people were killed and 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech A36TC · all A36TCs on the register
- Registration
- N2YS · registry record · serial EA-106
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT WAS MAKING A VISUAL APPROACH AT DUSK TO RUNWAY 36, WHICH SLOPED UPWARD FROM THE APPROACH END. IT WAS LIGHTED WITH LOW INTENSITY LIGHTS. AS THE AIRCRAFT WAS PROCEEDING IN THE VICINITY OF A LEFT BASE LEG, IT COLLIDED WITH TREES ABOUT 50' ABOVE THE GROUND. IT THEN CRASHED TO THE GROUND & BEGAN BURNING. ONE PASSENGER EGRESSED FROM THE AIRCRAFT WITH INJURIES FROM IMPACT & FIRE. NO PREIMPACT PART FAILURE OR MALFUNTION WAS FOUND DURING THE INVESTIGATION.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,500 hours in all; 100 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,150 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 13, 1989; 15 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,650 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental TSIO-520-UB (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: I68 Lebanon OH at 11:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 36, 3,200 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: dusk
- Wind: from 220° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 25,000 ft; scat at 15,000 ft
- Temperature: 63°F (17°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 11:50 pm from IND, 26 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 | 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.