Beech A36 accident near Anderson, Indiana, May 8, 1990
On May 8, 1990 at about 8:00 pm local time, a Beech A36, registered N3081W, was substantially damaged in an accident near Anderson, Indiana (Anderson Municipal airport). It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 6 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT FAILED TO ADEQUATELY COMPENSATE FOR THE WIND CONDITIONS. THE GUSTY CROSSWIND WAS A FACTOR.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 8, 1990 · about 8:00 pm local time
- Place
- Anderson, Indiana · Anderson Municipal · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 6 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech A36 · all A36s on the register
- Registration
- N3081W · no longer on the register · serial E-2372
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT STATED THAT HIS APPROACH TO LANDING AND INITIAL TOUCHDOWN WERE NORMAL AND SMOOTH WITH ADEQUATE COMPENSATION FOR THE GUSTY CROSSWIND CONDITIONS. HE REPORTED THAT JUST AS THE NOSEWHEEL WAS TOUCHING DOWN, A HEAVY GUST STRUCK THE AIRCRAFT, LIFTING IT OFF THE RUNWAY. THE AIRCRAFT BOUNCED HARD ON THE RUNWAY, AND THE NOSE GEAR BROKE OFF. THE AIRCRAFT SKIDDED TO A STOP, NOSE DOWN, ON THE LEFT EDGE OF THE RUNWAY. ON-GOING AIRPORT/RUNWAY CONSTRUCTION PRECLUDED A LANDING ON A RUNWAY MORE ALIGNED WITH THE WIND.
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
- Flight time: 348 hours in all; 162 in this make and model; 37 in the last 90 days; 10 in the last 30 days; 261 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (expired)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 403 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 2, 1990; 330 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,650 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-550-B (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: PSK Dublin VA at 6:50 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 12, 5,400 ft by 100 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 190° at 14 knots, gusting 23
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 5,000 ft
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 9:21 pm from AID
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 | |||
| Passengers | 4 |
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.