Beech A36TC accident near Franklinton, Louisiana, September 19, 1999
On September 19, 1999 at about 5:58 pm local time, a Beech A36TC, registered N206WJ, was destroyed in an accident near Franklinton, Louisiana (Franklinton Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 4 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's inadvertent stall while attempting to clear trees during a go-around. Factors were the pilot's misjudgment of the airplane's distance and speed during the precautionary landing and the partial loss of engine power due to a perforated piston.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 19, 1999 · about 5:58 pm local time
- Place
- Franklinton, Louisiana · Franklinton Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 4 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech A36TC · all A36TCs on the register
- Registration
- N206WJ · no longer on the register · serial EA-206
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported to ATC that 'he wanted to come down to the nearest airport due to an cylinder overheating problem.' The pilot was vectored to an airport with a 3,000 foot runway. A witness observed the airplane 'high and fast' as it entered the pattern. Witnesses observed the airplane flying over runway 31 with the landing gear extended, at 15 to 35 feet agl. Witnesses reported the airplane assumed a nose high attitude as 'if the airplane was attempting to climb,' and subsequently, they heard the sound of the engine increase. One of the witnesses reported 'the engine sounded as if it was flooded or bogged down.' The pilot lost control of the airplane as he attempted to clear trees at the departure end of the runway. The gear was found in the 'in-transit' position with the wing flaps fully extended. Examination of the engine revealed a hole eroded through the side of the piston for the #2 cylinder. Both spark plugs for the #2 cylinder were found filled with aluminum debris around their electrodes. Examination of the propeller indicated that it was being operated with low power at the time of impact.
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: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 526 hours in all; 46 in the last 90 days; 14 in the last 30 days; 474 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,766 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 22, 1999; 149 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,650 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental TSIO-520-UB (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: BTR Baton Rouge LA at 5:34 pm
- Destination: MGM Montgomery AL
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 31, 3,000 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 020° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 88°F (31°C), dew point 72°F (22°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
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.