Beech A36 accident near Poughkeepsie, New York, July 25, 2015
On July 25, 2015 at about 2:40 pm local time, a 1979 Beech A36, registered N6677D, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff near Poughkeepsie, New York (Dutchess County Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A leaking fuel discharge fitting, which resulted in a partial loss of engine power and an off-airport, gear-up landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 25, 2015 · about 2:40 pm local time
- Place
- Poughkeepsie, New York · Dutchess County Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech A36, built 1979 · all A36s on the register
- Registration
- N6677D · no longer on the register · serial E-1581
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot landed the airplane at an intermediate airport to refuel before resuming his cross-country flight. After refueling and sumping the tanks, he taxied, performed an engine run-up, checked the magnetos, and cycled the propeller. During takeoff, the pilot noticed a vibration and unusual noise as the airplane rotated. He applied the brakes, as he thought the wheels were rotating and causing the vibration, and retracted the landing gear, but the vibration continued. The engine then lost partial power. He checked that the propeller, throttle, and mixture controls were full forward, but the airplane would not climb. He indicated that, due to the low airspeed, he could not return to the airport, so he pulled back on the control wheel to clear power lines, "forced the nose down" to prevent a stall, and landed gear-up, during which the airplane sustained substantial damage. Examination of the wreckage revealed no evidence of preimpact failures or malfunctions of the airplane or engine. Fuel was observed in both the left and right wing tanks. A postaccident engine test run was performed in a test cell. The engine started normally; accelerated normally without any hesitation, stumbling, or interruption in power; and produced rated horsepower. Testing of the auxiliary fuel pump, which was designed so that fuel would flow through it regardless of whether it was on or off, revealed that although it was operating within specifications, the discharge fitting was leaking, which allowed air into the fuel system. Disassembly of the discharge fitting revealed that it had likely been installed to the proper torque but that there were deep scratches on the O-ring boss on the pump side of the fitting and a piece of metal embedded in the O-ring, which indicates that it had been damaged before or during installation. After the fittings were replaced, no leaks were found.
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
- Aircraft maintenance event during prior to flight
- Fuel starvation during takeoff defining event
- Loss of engine power (partial) during initial climb
- Off-field or emergency landing during emergency descent
- Collision during takeoff/land during landing
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Maintenance › Installation › Maintenance personnel
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Fuel system › Fuel pumps › Incorrect service/maintenance
- cause Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware › Misc hardware › (general) › Incorrect service/maintenance
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Engine fuel and control › Fuel distribution › Damaged/degraded
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 8,954 hours in all; 6,311 in this make and model; 92 in the last 90 days; 34 in the last 30 days; 8,896 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: February 1, 2015
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
Passenger
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,796.6 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 17, 2014; 97 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,651 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-520-BB (piston); 790 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: POU Poughkeepsie NY at 2:42 pm
- Destination: BTV Burlington VT
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 24, 5,001 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 77°F (25°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
- Altimeter: 30.01 inHg
- Observation at 2:47 pm from POU
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight 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.