Beech A36TC accident near Boca Raton, Florida, January 11, 1985
On January 11, 1985 at about 11:37 pm local time, a Beech A36TC, registered N3872D, was destroyed in an accident near Boca Raton, Florida (Unknown airport). It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 11, 1985 · about 11:37 pm local time
- Place
- Boca Raton, Florida · Unknown · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech A36TC · all A36TCs on the register
- Registration
- N3872D · no longer on the register · serial EA-226
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT CRASHED IN A STEEP UNCONTROLLED DESCENT SHORTLY AFTER THE ENG LOST POWER DURING THE INITIAL TAKEOFF CLIMB. WITNESSES STATED THAT THE ACFT WAS SEEN DEPARTING ON RWY 4 AFTER WHICH IT CLIMBED TO 200 FT AGL (APRX). THE ENG WAS HEARD SPUTTERING BUT STILL RUNNING. THE ACFT ENTERED A 90 DEGREE BANK TO THE LEFT & STARTED TO DESCEND. NO FURTHER ENG SOUNDS WERE HEARD DURING THE BANKING MANEUVER. THE ACFT DESCENDED BEHIND TREES AND A LOUD CRASH WAS FOLLOWED BY BILLOWING SMOKE. THE PLT WAS PRONOUNCED, BY FLORIDA DIST 15 MEDICAL EXAMINER, TO HAVE DIED OF A IMPACT FORCES. NO MECHANICAL REASONS FOR THE ENG SPUTTERING COULD BE FOUND ROTATION AT IMPACT. THE COCKPIT INSTRUMENTATION AND ENG CONTROLS WERE DESTROYED BY FIRE TO PRECLUDE THEIR USE IN DETERMINATION OF CAUSE.
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: airline transport pilot, flight instructor
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 11,200 hours in all; 2 in this make and model; 100 in the last 90 days; 50 in the last 30 days; 11,100 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 616 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 17, 1984; 10 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,650 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental TSIO-520 (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: BCT Boca Raton FL at 11:36 pm
- Destination: OPF Opa-Locka FL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 180° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 8 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; scat at 6,000 ft
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 59°F (15°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 11:47 pm from FLL, 15 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.