Beech A36 accident near Pomona, New Jersey, April 11, 2003
On April 11, 2003 at about 8:25 pm local time, a Beech A36, registered N256PR, was destroyed in an accident near Pomona, New Jersey (Atlantic City International 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 follow instrument approach procedures. Factors in the accident included the pilot's lack of recent instrument experience and the instrument weather conditions.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 11, 2003 · about 8:25 pm local time
- Place
- Pomona, New Jersey · Atlantic City International · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Beech A36 · all A36s on the register
- Registration
- N256PR · no longer on the register · serial E-470
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot attempted two ILS approaches, during which the controller made numerous attempts to assist the pilot in intercepting the localizer. The controller instructed the pilot to climb twice when he was below the glideslope, and also made numerous repeated transmissions to obtain pilot acknowledgement of navigational instructions. During the second approach, when the pilot passed through the localizer and continued eastbound, the controller initiated a surveillance approach by providing step-down altitudes and headings to the pilot. The pilot was cleared to land, and instructed to report the runway in sight. The pilot acknowledged the clearance; however, no further transmissions were received by the pilot. Radar data indicated the last recorded position of the airplane was 1.3 nautical miles west northwest of the runway, at 300 feet. Examination of the airplane revealed no mechanical malfunctions. Interviews with family members and friends of the pilot, revealed he had received his instrument rating through a week-long school, within the past year, and had "not accumulated much instrument flight time" since then.
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: 1,773 hours in all; 365 in this make and model; 24 in the last 90 days
- Last flight review: April 26, 2001
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 20, 2002
- Maximum gross weight: 3,650 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-520 (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: CAE Columbia SC at 6:37 pm
- Destination: ACY Pomona NJ
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 13, 9,999 ft by 180 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 030° at 15 knots, gusting 21
- Visibility: 1 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 300 ft
- Temperature: 45°F (7°C), dew point 45°F (7°C)
- Altimeter: 29.63 inHg
- Observation at 7:54 pm from ACY, 1 miles away
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.
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.