Beech B36TC accident near Willow Park, Texas, January 16, 2004
On January 16, 2004, a Beech B36TC, registered N7252X, was destroyed in an accident near Willow Park, Texas (Parker County Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control while maneuvering. Contributing factors were the dark night and rain.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 16, 2004 · cases in 2004
- Place
- Willow Park, Texas · Parker County Airport · cases near this airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Beech B36TC · all B36TCs on the register
- Registration
- N7252X · no longer on the register · serial EA-450
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The 997-hour instrument rated pilot obtained weather briefings for his destination, which reported instrument meteorological conditions, including rain, mist, low visibilities and ceilings. The pilot then departed and flew to his destination, where he was cleared for a VOR/DME-A approach. The airplane flew along the course, and less than a 1/2-mile from the runway, the pilot reported he needed climbing instructions, and initiated a turn toward the north/northeast as instructed by air traffic control. The airplane continued to fly north. It then began a right turn, followed by a left turn back toward the north. One witness heard the airplane fly loudly overhead before it collided with terrain. A second witness reported that the weather was raining, dark, and the fog was bad "you couldn't see anything." At the time of the accident, weather reported 17 miles east of the accident site included 1.5 statute mile visibility, rain, overcast ceilings at 500 feet. Examination of the airplane and engine revealed no anomalies.
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
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 997 hours in all; 700 in this make and model; 47 in the last 90 days; 13 in the last 30 days; 889 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: June 10, 2002
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,403.5 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 11, 2002
- Maximum gross weight: 12,500 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Teledyne Continental TSIO-520-UB11 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: HOU Houston TX at 10:20 pm
- Destination: WEA Parker County TX
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 17, 2,889 ft by 40 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 110° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 1.5 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 500 ft
- Temperature: 57°F (14°C), dew point 57°F (14°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Other NTSB records under N7252X the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N7252X: not on the register today · the record of its deregistration
- Beechcraft B36 Bonanza 308 registered today · the model family and its accident history
- Beechcraft 6 aircraft on the register
- Engine: Teledyne Continental TSIO-520-UB11 4,110 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Parker County · nearest airport
- William P Hobby Airport · departed from
- Accidents and incidents in Texas 6,244 since 1982 · 1,064 in the last ten years
- Texas 29,966 aircraft registered
- Other NTSB records under N7252X 1 records · the number may have belonged to another aircraft at the time
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/FTW04FA062.json.
The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.
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 does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.