Beech A36 accident near Caldwell, Texas, May 15, 1991
On May 15, 1991 at about 8:20 pm local time, a Beech A36, registered N6732C, was destroyed in an accident near Caldwell, Texas. It was an executive or corporate flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND'S FAILURE TO PROPERLY POSITION THE FUEL SELECTOR HANDLE RESULTING IN A FUEL STARVATION POWER LOSS. A FACTOR WAS THE INADVERTENT STALL.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 15, 1991 · about 8:20 pm local time
- Place
- Caldwell, Texas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech A36 · all A36s on the register
- Registration
- N6732C · no longer on the register · serial E-1645
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Executive or corporate flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE NON-IFR RATED PRIVATE PILOT, WHO WAS TRAVELING ON BUSINESS, ROUTINELY ENGAGED THE SERVICES OF A SAFETY PILOT. AN IFR-RATED PILOT WAS RETAINED FOR THE FLIGHT. THE IFR PORTION OF THE FLIGHT WAS CANCELLED AT APPROXIMATELY 4,000 FEET IN THE VICINITY OF THE AIRPORT. A WITNESS REPORTED THAT THE AIRPLANE APPEARED TO BE HIGH AND FAST ON THE APPROACH. THE LANDING GEAR AND FLAPS WERE OBSERVED TO BE IN THE DOWN POSITION. ENGINE POWER WAS HEARD TO BE REDUCED, FOLLOWED BY ONLY THE SOUND OF A WINDMILLING PROPELLER. THE AIRPLANE THEN PITCHED UP, STALLED, AND DEPARTED FROM CONTROLLED FLIGHT ASSUMING A RIGHT WING LOW, NOSE LOW ATTITUDE. GROUND IMPACT WAS MADE IN THE SAME ATTITUDE. POST-IMPACT FIRE CONSUMED THE WRECKAGE. THE FUEL SELECTOR WAS FOUND TO BE POSITIONED BETWEEN THE OFF AND LEFT TANK POSITION AT THE ACCIDENT SITE. SUBSEQUENT LABORATORY EXAMINATION CONFIRMED THIS FINDING. THIS RESULTED IN THE FUEL STARVATION INDUCED LOSS OF 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
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,070 hours in all; 1,020 as pilot in command; 565 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 1, 1990; 197 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,600 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-520-BB (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
- Operator: Airtech Avionics, INC.
The flight
- Departed from: ADS Addison TX at 6:30 pm
- Destination: 14R Caldwell TX
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 200° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 4,000 ft
- Temperature: 88°F (31°C), dew point 75°F (24°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 |
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.
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.