Beech A36 accident near Marble Falls, Texas, October 27, 1991
On October 27, 1991 at about 11:35 pm local time, a Beech A36, registered N7246H, was destroyed in an accident near Marble Falls, Texas. It was a personal 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'S PERFORMANCE OF ACROBATIC MANEUVERS AT AN ALTITUDE TOO LOW TO ALLOW FOR RECOVERY.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 27, 1991 · about 11:35 pm local time
- Place
- Marble Falls, Texas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech A36 · all A36s on the register
- Registration
- N7246H · registry record · serial E-2295
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
A 49 YEAR OLD PRIVATE PILOT AND HIS 27 YEAR OLD BROTHER-IN-LAW WENT FLYING TOGETHER FOR THE FIRST TIME. THE PILOT WAS A RETIRED NAVY FLIGHT SURGEON WITH 221 HOURS LOGGED AS A PRIVATE PILOT. HIS PASSENGER WAS A RATED AVIATOR ON ACTIVE DUTY WITH THE USAF, WHO RECENTLY COMPLETED A COMBAT TOUR FLYING KC-135 DURING OPERATION 'DESERT STORM'. AFTER COMPLETING SEVERAL PASSES OVER A SCENIC AREA, WITNESSES OBSERVED THE AIRPLANE PERFORM A MANEUVER COMMONLY REFERRED TO AS A 'WINGOVER' WITHOUT SUFFICIENT ALTITUDE TO RECOVER FROM THE ENSUING DIVE. IMPACT OCCURRED AT ABOUT 45 DEGREES NOSE LOW. THE WRECKAGE PATH WAS 350 FEET LONG.
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: 221 hours in all; 72 in this make and model; 72 in the last 90 days; 35 in the last 30 days; 105 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 845 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 4, 1991; 126 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,600 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-550-B (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: AUS Austin TX at 11:14 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 160° at 11 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 8,000 ft; scat at 4,600 ft
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 66°F (19°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 11:50 pm from AUS, 32 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.
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.