Beech A36TC accident near Bismarck, North Dakota, November 1, 1985
On November 1, 1985 at about 10:00 pm local time, a Beech A36TC, registered N3663K, was substantially damaged in an accident near Bismarck, North Dakota (Bismarck Municipal airport). It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. 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
- November 1, 1985 · about 10:00 pm local time
- Place
- Bismarck, North Dakota · Bismarck Municipal · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech A36TC · all A36TCs on the register
- Registration
- N3663K · registry record · serial EA-84
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF, THE PLT OF THE BEECH A36TC ACFT ACTIVATED WHAT HE BELIEVED WAS THE FLAP RETRACTION LEVER, AND THE ENG QUIT. THE PLT MADE A FORCED LANDING APRX 1000 FT FROM THE RWY DEPARTURE END. DURING THE INVESTIGATION, THE ENG WAS STARTED AND FUNCTIONED NORMALLY, UNTIL THE EMERG FUEL PUMP (EFP) SWITCH WAS ACTIVATED, WHICH RESULTED IN THE ENG QUITTING DUE TO FLOODING. THIS STEP WAS REPEATED SEVERAL TIMES WITH THE SAME RESULTS. THE EFP SWITCH AND FLAP RETRACTION LEVER ARE APRX TWO INCHES APART.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 702 hours in all; 241 in this make and model; 26 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 912 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 19, 1985; 106 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,650 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental TSIO-520-UB (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: DIK Dickinson ND
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 31
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 210° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 12 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 5,000 ft
- Temperature: 48°F (9°C), dew point 23°F (-5°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:31 pm from BIS, 1 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.