Beech A36 accident near Le Roy, New York, October 27, 2019
On October 27, 2019 at about 7:00 pm local time, a 1969 Beech A36, registered N9008V, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff near Le Roy, New York (Le Roy airport). It was a personal flight under public-use (government) rules. 4 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's improper pitch control during takeoff in high, gusting wind conditions, which resulted in a runway overrun and the nose landing gear collapsing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 27, 2019 · about 7:00 pm local time
- Place
- Le Roy, New York · Le Roy · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 4 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech A36, built 1969 · all A36s on the register
- Registration
- N9008V · no longer on the register · serial E-185
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · public-use (government) rules
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that, before the takeoff roll, he had increased the trim because the tail felt like it was "lifting ahead of the nose when not heavily loaded in the rear." During the takeoff roll, while about 73 knots and 1,800 ft down the runway, the airplane lifted off. The airplane was still in ground effect, and the pilot applied forward yoke pressure to increase the airspeed. He recalled checking the gauges, and all appeared within normal limits. The airplane descended to the runway about 74 knots and bounced. The airplane overran the runway, and the pilot pushed forward on the yoke to level the airplane, but the airplane encountered a wind gust from the left and touched down in the grass about 155 ft beyond the end of the runway. The nose landing gear collapsed, and the airplane stopped. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the engine mounts, the elevator, and both wings. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
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
- Abnormal runway contact during takeoff
- Runway excursion during takeoff
- Loss of control on ground during takeoff defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Pitch control › Not attained/maintained
- cause Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › High wind › Effect on operation
- cause Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Gusts › Effect on operation
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 285 hours in all; 115 in this make and model; 11.8 in the last 90 days; 8.6 in the last 30 days; 183 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: September 15, 2016
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 7,666 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 8, 2018
- Maximum gross weight: 3,651 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-520 (piston); 242 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 5G0 Le Roy NY at 7:00 pm
- Destination: IUA Canandiauga NY
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 28, 3,854 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 260° at 17 knots, gusting 30
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 2,900 ft
- Temperature: 59°F (15°C), dew point 48°F (9°C)
- Altimeter: 29.70 inHg
- Observation at 6:54 pm from KROC, 14 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
2 documents, released by the NTSB on January 24, 2020. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Photo | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.