Beech A36 accident near Fredericksburg, Virginia, April 9, 2025
On April 9, 2025 at about 7:05 pm local time, a 1989 Beech A36, registered N2Z, was substantially damaged in an accident during enroute near Fredericksburg, Virginia. It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. 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
- April 9, 2025 · about 7:05 pm local time
- Place
- Fredericksburg, Virginia · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech A36, built 1989 · all A36s on the register
- Registration
- N2Z · registry record · serial E-2514
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative preliminary · quoted from the NTSB record
On April 9, 2025, about 1505 eastern daylight time, a Beech A36, N2Z, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Fredericksburg, Virginia. The pilot and the pilot rated passenger sustained minor injuries. The airplane was operated under Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. According to pilot, while conducting a flight from Leesburg Executive Airport (JYO), Leesburg, Virginia to Hampton Roads Executive Airport (PVG), Norfolk, Virginia, the airplane experienced a loss of oil pressure, followed by a complete loss of engine power. The pilot tried to land in a field but overshot the intended landing area. The left wing contacted a tree at the end of the field and the airplane rolled over and struck another tree. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the airframe. A Federal Aviation Administration inspector reported that there was a hole in the top of the engine crankcase and the connecting rod for the No. 4 cylinder was fragmented. The wreckage was retained 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
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 26, 2024; 5 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,650 lb
- Seats: 5
- Landing gear: retractable
The flight
- Departed from: JYO Leesburg VA at 6:35 pm
- Destination: PVG Chesapeake VA
- Flight plan: none
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 52°F (11°C), dew point 18°F (-8°C)
- Altimeter: 30.27 inHg
- Observation at 2:15 pm from EZF, 7 miles away
Weather report (METAR): KEZF 091815Z AUTO 00000KT 10SM CLR 11/M08 A3027 RMK AO2 T01101077
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 |
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.