Beech A36 accident near Argyle, New York, January 27, 2010
On January 27, 2010 at about 7:42 pm local time, a Beech A36, registered N800G, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Argyle, New York (Argyle Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's decision to land downwind on the contaminated runway, resulting in the airplane overrunning the runway.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 27, 2010 · about 7:42 pm local time
- Place
- Argyle, New York · Argyle Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech A36 · all A36s on the register
- Registration
- N800G · registry record · serial E-1548
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot stated that he entered the traffic pattern and circled about four times, looking at the windsock and the condition of the 2,400-foot grass runway. After a crosswind landing with full flaps he applied brakes but said that they had no effect on stopping performance. He released the brakes and reapplied them but the airplane did not stop. He elected to stay on the runway and the airplane collided with a plastic perimeter fence, located past the end of the runway. The airplane came to a stop in a field and the pilot and three passengers exited the airplane. The pilot reported that the grass runway was wet at the time, with some snow and ice on the runway as well. The airplane sustained structural damage to the left wing. The pilot reported no mechanical malfunctions or anomalies with the airplane.
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 landing (landing roll) defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Incorrect action selection › Pilot
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Decision making/judgment › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 896 hours in all; 60 in this make and model; 30 in the last 90 days; 14 in the last 30 days; 780 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: January 27, 2009
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,223 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 1, 2009
- Maximum gross weight: 3,850 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental TSIO-520 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: ALB Albany NY at 7:00 pm
- Destination: 1C3 Argyle NY
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 03, 2,400 ft by 87 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 250° at 10 knots, gusting 16
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 5,500 ft
- Temperature: 34°F (1°C), dew point 21°F (-6°C)
- Altimeter: 29.98 inHg
- Observation at 7:53 pm from GFL, 8 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
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.