Beech A36 accident near Doylestown, Pennsylvania, November 18, 2024
On November 18, 2024 at about 5:23 pm local time, a 1993 Beech A36, registered N8152R, was substantially damaged in an accident during approach (VFR go-around) near Doylestown, Pennsylvania (Doylestown airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s failure to maintain control of the airplane during an attempted go-around, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall and impact with terrain and a parked airplane.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 18, 2024 · about 5:23 pm local time
- Place
- Doylestown, Pennsylvania · Doylestown · map
- Type
- Accident · collision on the ground
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech A36, built 1993 · all A36s on the register
- Registration
- N8152R · registry record · serial E-2778
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The purpose of the flight was to demonstrate the airplane’s flight characteristics to the pilot-rated passenger, who was interested in purchasing a share of the airplane. Both the pilot and the pilot-rated passenger reported that the preflight, takeoff, and local flight were uneventful. When returning to the departure airport, the pilot extended the landing gear, and fully extended the flaps. During the landing attempt, when the airplane was about 3 ft above the runway, the pilot reported the airplane suddenly ballooned about 20 ft into the air. The pilot decided to perform a go-around and applied full throttle, retracted the landing gear, and partially raised the flaps. The pilot then reported that he felt the airplane “drop out from under me.” The airplane then impacted the ground to the left of the runway and slid into a parked airplane before coming to rest, resulting in substantial damage to the accident airplane’s left wing and fuselage. The accident was partially captured by video surveillance. The airplane was first seen in a shallow climb. Shortly after, it began to descend, and the wings began to rock back and forth. As the airplane neared the ground, the airplane pitched up, and then impacted the ground near the runway. The wings rocking back and forth were consistent with the airplane nearing an aerodynamic stall, and when the airplane pitched up, it resulted in a full aerodynamic stall. Postaccident examination of the airframe, and an examination and test run of the engine, revealed no evidence of any preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. Examination of the propeller showed signatures that were consistent with the high rotational energy at the time of impact. The airplane was equipped with an engine data monitor that recorded the accident flight; however, due to the low recording frequency, it did not capture at least the last 8 seconds of the flight. Shortly before the data stopped recording, the engine rpm and manifold pressure rose sharply to 2,606 rpm and 22.9 inches of manifold pressure. While this is not the maximum rpm or a manifold pressure expected for full power; since the engine run showed the engine was capable of reaching full power, it is likely that the data recording did not capture the engine accelerating to full power.
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
- Aerodynamic stall/spin during approach (VFR go-around) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Angle of attack › Not attained/maintained
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot, private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: glider; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 1,510 hours in all; 750 in this make and model; 6 in the last 90 days; 5 in the last 30 days; 1,260 as pilot in command; 0 on instruments
- Last flight review: October 28, 2023
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
Pilot-Rated Passenger
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,537 hours in all; 0 in this make and model; 48 in the last 90 days; 48 in the last 30 days; 1,390 as pilot in command; 749 on instruments
- Last flight review: October 25, 2024
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: serious injuries
Passenger
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,952.9 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 11, 2024; 36.8 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,000 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-550-B (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 23, 3,002 ft by 60 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 320° at 7 knots, gusting 16
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 45°F (7°C)
- Altimeter: 29.86 inHg
- Observation at 12:54 pm from DYL
Weather report (METAR): METAR KDYL 181754Z AUTO 32007G16KT 10SM CLR 18/07 A2986 RMK AO2 SLP112 T01830067 10183 20072 58024=
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
Photographs from the investigation 6 pictures from the NTSB's docket, as the NTSB released them
ON SCENE PHOTOGRAPHS Photograph 1 – Wreckage overview
ON SCENE PHOTOGRAPHS Photograph 2 – Wreckage overview
ON SCENE PHOTOGRAPHS Photograph 3 – Wreckage overview
ON SCENE PHOTOGRAPHS Photograph 4 – Ground scar looking toward the wreckage site
ON SCENE PHOTOGRAPHS Photograph 5 – Image of ground scars on the tarmac (looking toward runway)
ON SCENE PHOTOGRAPHS Photograph 6 – Cockpit image with fuel selector visible in the “LEFT” positionThe NTSB's photographs with the NTSB's captions, at screen size. Open a picture to see it full size or to report one that should not be shown.
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
17 documents, released by the NTSB on August 26, 2026. 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.
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
Other NTSB records under N8152R the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.
