Beech A36 accident near Fairmont, West Virginia, September 19, 2009
On September 19, 2009 at about 1:15 pm local time, a Beech A36, registered N57S, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff (rejected takeoff) near Fairmont, West Virginia (Fairmont Municipal Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were seriously injured and 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's delay in aborting the takeoff, resulting in an overun. Contributing to the accident was the overweight condition of the airplane.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 19, 2009 · about 1:15 pm local time
- Place
- Fairmont, West Virginia · Fairmont Municipal Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured and 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech A36 · all A36s on the register
- Registration
- N57S · no longer on the register · serial E2290
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
According to the pilot, the airplane appeared to accelerate normally on liftoff until about 4 feet above the runway, but the airplane did not want to fly. He stated that the only way to get it to fly was to push the nose down, but he did not want to do that, so he pulled the power off and landed about three-quarters of the way down the runway. He stated that the airplane was performing fine. The airplane continued off the departure end of the 2,859-foot-long runway and struck an embankment. A video recording of the flight revealed that the airplane lifted off in a nose-high attitude and settled back to the runway after the ground roll used about eight-tenths of the runway. Weight and balance calculations were completed using the airplane’s maintenance records and the weights volunteered by the pilot, his passengers, 40 pounds of baggage, and 70 gallons of fuel. The estimated weight of the airplane at takeoff was 3,842 pounds. The maximum allowable gross weight for the airplane was 3,650 pounds.
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
What happened, in order
- Runway excursion during takeoff (rejected takeoff) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Delayed action › Pilot
- factor Personnel issues › Task performance › Planning/preparation › Weight/balance calculations › Pilot
- factor Aircraft › Aircraft handling/service › Loading › (general) › Incorrect use/operation
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 3,910 hours in all; 393 in this make and model; 20 in the last 90 days
- Last flight review: May 28, 2009
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,821 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 23, 2009; 15 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,650 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental IO-550-B1F (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 4G7 Fairmont WV at 1:15 pm
- Destination: AUO Auburn AL
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 23, 2,859 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 0 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 57°F (14°C), dew point 52°F (11°C)
- Altimeter: 30.20 inHg
- Observation at 12:53 pm from CKB, 9 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 2 |
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.