Beech A36 accident near Sidney, Ohio, December 12, 2023
On December 12, 2023 at about 8:44 pm local time, a 1980 Beech A36, registered N6643H, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Sidney, Ohio (Sidney Muni airport). It was a personal 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).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilots’ improper landing flare, which resulted in a hard landing, runway excursion, and subsequent impact with a terminal sign and taxi light.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 12, 2023 · about 8:44 pm local time
- Place
- Sidney, Ohio · Sidney Muni · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech A36, built 1980 · all A36s on the register
- Registration
- N6643H · no longer on the register · serial E-1667
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The right seat pilot reported that after performing a preflight inspection, he anticipated the airplane would need to be refueled and subsequently left the fuel caps unlocked. After a discussion with the left seat pilot (who was acting as the pilot-in-command), they decided they would not need to refuel before the flight. Both pilots performed another walk around inspection and neither pilot noticed that the fuel caps remained unlocked. Shortly after takeoff, the right seat pilot noticed that both fuel caps were not secure, and that fuel was escaping from both main fuel tanks. He elected to make return to the departure airport and land on the opposite direction runway. The pilots were both manipulating the controls when they landed the airplane “hard” on the main landing gear. The airplane then bounced and veered to the right of the runway, impacting a terminal sign and taxi light. The hard landing and subsequent runway excursion resulted in substantial damage to the wings and fuselage. The pilots reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with 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
- Hard landing during landing (flare/touchdown) defining event
- Landing gear collapse during landing (flare/touchdown)
- Runway excursion during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Landing flare › Not attained/maintained
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 1,341 hours in all; 360 in this make and model
- Last flight review: May 12, 2022
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,562 hours in all; 1,312 in this make and model; 0 in the last 90 days; 0 in the last 30 days; 1,492 as pilot in command; 0 on instruments
- Last flight review: November 22, 2017
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (waiver time limited special)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,497.4 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 14, 2023; 56 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,780 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental Aerospace Technolo IO-520-BB (piston); 3,269 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SCA Sidney OH at 8:44 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 05, 2,981 ft by 50 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 270° at 14 knots, gusting 20
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 46°F (8°C), dew point 23°F (-5°C)
- Altimeter: 30.31 inHg
- Observation at 3:35 pm from EDJ, 17 miles away
Weather report (METAR): KEDJ 122035Z AUTO 27014G20KT 10SM CLR 08/M05 A3031 RMK A01
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
6 documents, released by the NTSB on January 25, 2024. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (Right Seat Pilot, PIC) | PDF, 11 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Pilot's Statement (Right Seat Pilot) | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (Left Seat Pilot) | PDF, 11 pages | View Download |
| 4 | Pilot's Statement (Left Seat Pilot) | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 5 | Memorandum for Record A�� Telephone Interview, Pilot (Left Seat Pilot) | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 6 | Investigation Photographs | PDF, 5 pages | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.