Beech BE-23 accident near Pensacola, Florida, December 14, 1985
On December 14, 1985 at about 11:34 pm local time, a Beech BE-23, registered N6636B, was destroyed in an accident near Pensacola, Florida (Pensacola Regional airport). 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 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
- December 14, 1985 · about 11:34 pm local time
- Place
- Pensacola, Florida · Pensacola Regional · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech BE-23
- Registration
- N6636B · registry record · serial M2215
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF ON INITIAL CLIMB THE AIRCRAFT WAS SEEN TO CRASH BACK ON THE RUNWAY. EXAMINATION OF THE WRECKAGE REVEALED THAT THE RIGHT STABILATOR ATTACH/HINGE BOLT WAS NOT INSTALLED, AND THE LEFT STABILATOR ATTACH/HINGE BOLT WAS FOUND PARTIALLY INSTALLED AND WAS MISSING THE SECURRING NUT. THE LEFT LEADING EDGE OF THE STABILATOR WAS FOUND CRUSHED AGAINST THE SIDE OF THE FUSELAGE WITH NO SOOT FROM THE POST IMPACT FIRE PRESENT BETWEEN THE MATING SURFACES.THE AIRCRAFT HAD BEEN INSPECTED 7 DAYS BEFORE THE ACCIDENT IN ACCORDANCE WITH A 100 HOUR INSPECTION.
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
- Flight time: 74 hours in all; 23 in this make and model; 4 in the last 90 days; 1 in the last 30 days; 42 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,015 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 9, 1985; 55 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,450 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O=360-A4K (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: PNS Pensacola FL at 11:34 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 34, 7,002 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: dusk
- Wind: from 350° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 34°F (1°C), dew point 12°F (-11°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 11:47 pm from PNS
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.