Beech 36 accident near Murray, Kentucky, August 6, 2020
On August 6, 2020 at about 1:15 pm local time, a 2004 Beech 36, registered N312LC, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Murray, Kentucky (Kyle-Oakley Field). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s failure to maintain control of the airplane during the simulated power off landing, and the flight instructor's delayed remedial action, which resulted in a loss of control and the airplane’s left wing striking the ground.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 6, 2020 · about 1:15 pm local time
- Place
- Murray, Kentucky · Kyle-Oakley Field · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech 36 A36, built 2004 · all 36s on the register
- Registration
- N312LC · registry record · serial E-3560
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The flight instructor and private pilot were practicing a steep spiral that would terminate with a power-off landing. The instructor stated that the pilot had added "quite a bit" of elevator nose-up trim to maintain best glide speed during the spiral maneuver. Right before touchdown, the pilot sensed the airplane had a normal than higher descent rate and increased engine power. When power was added, the airplane’s nose pitched up and the airplane rolled “violently” to the left. The airplane’s left wing struck the runway, substantially damaging it. The flight instructor then assumed control of the airplane and reduced the engine power to idle as it departed the left side of the runway. The pilot subsequently taxied the airplane to the ramp uneventfully. Both pilots reported there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures of the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
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
- Abnormal runway contact during landing (flare/touchdown)
- Loss of control in flight during landing (flare/touchdown) defining event
- Runway excursion during landing (flare/touchdown)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Landing flare › Not attained/maintained
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Delayed action › Instructor/check pilot
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Student/instructed pilot
Flight instructor
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 3,337 hours in all; 29.1 in this make and model; 42.2 in the last 90 days; 15 in the last 30 days; 3,234 as pilot in command; 1,145 on instruments
- Last flight review: November 1, 2019
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 488 hours in all; 250 in this make and model
- Last flight review: May 22, 2020
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 968 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 11, 2019
- Maximum gross weight: 3,651 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-550-B (piston); 968 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: CEY Murray KY at 12:00 pm
- Destination: CEY Murray KY
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 23, 6,202 ft by 100 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 350° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 68°F (20°C), dew point 63°F (17°C)
- Altimeter: 30.10 inHg
- Observation at 1:35 pm from CEY
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flig | 2 |
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number ERA20CA283.