Beech A36TC accident near Marietta, Oklahoma, June 4, 1986
On June 4, 1986 at about 6:20 pm local time, a Beech A36TC, registered N1835W, was destroyed in an accident near Marietta, Oklahoma. 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
- June 4, 1986 · about 6:20 pm local time
- Place
- Marietta, Oklahoma · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Beech A36TC · all A36TCs on the register
- Registration
- N1835W · no longer on the register · serial EA260
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT OBTAINED A WX BRIEFING AND WAS ADVISED OF SCATTERED THUNDERSTORM ACTIVITY ALONG HIS ROUTE OF FLT. THE PLT THEN FILED AN IFR FLT PLAN FROM WILEY POST AIRPORT, OKLAHOMA CITY, OK, TO HOUSTON INTERCONTINENTAL AIRPORT, TX. THE PLT AND HIS WIFE TOOK OFF AT 1235. THE ACFT CLIMBED TO ITS ASSIGNED ALT OF 11,000 FT MSL AND PROCEEDED ROUTINELY UNTIL 1310 WHEN ARTCC TOLD THE PLT TO CONTACT FORT WORTH CENTER. THE PLT ACKNWLEDGED BUT NEVER CONTACTED THE CENTER. RADAR CONTACT WAS LOST AT 1319. WITNESSES REPORTED HEARING A LOUD EXPLOSION AND OBSERVING WRECKAGE FALLING FROM THE SKY. WITNESS OBSERVATIONS AND WX RADAR CONFIRM THERE WAS A THUNDERSTORM JUST NORTH OF THE CRASH SITE THROUGH WHICH THE ACFT FLEW. WRECKAGE EXAMINATION REVEALED THE HORIZONTAL STABILIZERS FAILED NEGATIVELY AND SEPARATED FROM THE ACFT. BOTH WINGS THEN FAILED NEGATIVELY AND SEPARATED FROM THE ACFT.
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: 3,007 hours in all; 12 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 18, 1985
- Maximum gross weight: 3,650 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental TSIO-520-UB (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: PWA Oklahoma City OK at 5:35 pm
- Destination: IAH Houston TX
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 050° at 15 knots, gusting 20
- Visibility: 25 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:39 pm from ADM, 20 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.