Beech B24R accident near Fernandina Bch, Florida, January 19, 1986
On January 19, 1986 at about 8:30 pm local time, a Beech B24R, registered N2520W, was substantially damaged in an accident near Fernandina Bch, Florida (Fernandina Beach airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. 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 19, 1986 · about 8:30 pm local time
- Place
- Fernandina Bch, Florida · Fernandina Beach · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech B24R · all B24Rs on the register
- Registration
- N2520W · no longer on the register · serial MC-193
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT STATED THAT JUST AFTER HE ROTATED, HE EXPERIENCED A LOSS OF POWER, EXTENDED HIS LANDED GEAR & LANDED HARD CAUSING A COLLAPSE OF THE LANDING GEAR. POST CRASH EXAMINATION OF THE ENG REVEALED THAT THE RIGHT MAGNETO WAS IMPROPERLY TIMED & THE LEFT MAGNETO WAS LOOSE AND FREE TO ROTATE WHICH WOULD CAUSE THE LOSS OF ENG POWER AS DESCRIBED BY THE PILOT.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,170 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,700 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 2,550 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming I0360 A1B6 (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Shields Aviation CORP.
The flight
- Departed from: CRG Jacksonville FL at 8:00 pm
- Destination: SSJ Fernandina Bch FL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 26, 4,300 ft by 150 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 260° at 17 knots, gusting 27
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 3,500 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 66°F (19°C), dew point 48°F (9°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 8:30 pm from JAX, 20 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 |
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.