Beech A36 accident near East Aurora, New York, December 19, 2024
On December 19, 2024 at about 4:22 pm local time, a 1979 Beech A36, registered N36WP, was destroyed in an accident during enroute near East Aurora, New York (Buffalo Niagara Intl airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 19, 2024 · about 4:22 pm local time
- Place
- East Aurora, New York · Buffalo Niagara Intl · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech A36, built 1979 · all A36s on the register
- Registration
- N36WP · registry record · serial EA-13
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative preliminary · quoted from the NTSB record
On December 19, 2024, at 1122 eastern standard time, a Beech A36, N36WP, was destroyed when it was involved in an accident near East Aurora, New York. The private pilot was fatally injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. Preliminary air traffic control (ATC) data indicated that the airplane departed from Capital Region International Airport (LAN), Lansing, Michigan, on an instrument flight rules (IFR) flight plan to Westchester County Airport (HPN), White Plains, New York. About 1 hour and 20 minutes into the flight, while cruising at 12,500 ft, the pilot declared an emergency, reporting “very low power on my engine” and requesting to remain as high as possible. Air traffic control initially directed the pilot to Buffalo Niagara International Airport (BUF), Buffalo, New York, and subsequently provided vectors to Buffalo Airfield (9G0). The pilot reported that while the engine was still producing power, the airplane was no longer able to maintain altitude. He stated he did not think the airplane could reach either airport, and opted for an off-airport landing. Air traffic control provided vectors toward a freeway, but the pilot indicated he would attempt a landing in a field. Radar contact was lost shortly afterward, near the accident site. Witnesses near the accident site observed the airplane flying low, approximately 30 ft above a tree line, before seeing a black plume of smoke. Examination of the accident site revealed that the airplane initially struck a tree trunk and came to rest approximately 40 ft beyond the impact point. A postimpact fire consumed the fuselage, cockpit, and inboard wing sections. The right outboard wing exhibited crush damage near the tip, with the aileron and flap attached. The right tip tank was impact-separated, and came to rest near the base of the initial tree strike. The left outboard wing sustained multiple tree strikes, with the aileron impact-separated and the flap attached. The aft cabin and tail cone were destroyed by fire. The empennage components showed varying degrees of damage; the right horizontal stabilizer, elevator, vertical stabilizer, and rudder remained attached, while the left horizontal stabilizer and elevator were fragmented by impact forces. The engine remained partially attached to the airframe and exhibited heavy sooting and fire damage. All engine accessories remained in place and were fire damaged. Initial external examination of the engine did not reveal evidence of a catastrophic failure. The airplane was recovered for further examination.
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
- Loss of engine power (total) during enroute defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during emergency descent
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 3,650 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: LAN Lansing MI at 2:52 pm
- Destination: Buff Buffalo NY
- Flight plan: IFR
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 310° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 4,900 ft
- Temperature: 32°F (0°C), dew point 19°F (-7°C)
- Altimeter: 30.31 inHg
- Observation at 11:54 am from KBUF, 10 miles away
Weather report (METAR): KBUF 191654Z 31006KT 10SM BKN049 BKN210 00/M07 A3031 RMK AO2 SLP274 T00001072
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The NTSB has not released the docket for this case yet. The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), is usually released when the investigation is nearly complete, and the list here is refreshed when it appears. Check 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.