Beech 36 accident near Marco Island, Florida, July 6, 1986
On July 6, 1986 at about 4:45 pm local time, a Beech 36, registered N9031S, was destroyed in an accident near Marco Island, Florida (Marco Island airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries; 2 others were unhurt. 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
- July 6, 1986 · about 4:45 pm local time
- Place
- Marco Island, Florida · Marco Island
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries; 2 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech 36 · all 36s on the register
- Registration
- N9031S · no longer on the register · serial E-117
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING LANDING APCH, THE PLT STATED THAT HE SWITCHED FROM THE LEFT FUEL TANK TO THE RIGHT TANK & SHORTLY THEREAFTER, THE ENG FAILED. HE WAS UNABLE TO RESTART THE ENG AND A FORCED LDG WAS MADE. AN EXAM OF THE LEFT TANK REVEALED IT TO BE EMPTY WHILE THE RIGHT TANK CONTAINED A QUANITY OF FUEL. HE STATED THAT THE TANKS WERE NOT FULL PRIOR TO TAKEOFF AND THAT HE HAD BEEN OPERATING DURING THE FLT ON THE LEFT TANK. NO FUEL WAS FOUND IN THE ENG FUEL SPIDER OR SPIDER SUPPLY LINES. THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE OF FUEL CONTAMINATION.
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: 1,150 hours in all; 660 in this make and model; 40 in the last 90 days; 680 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,550 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 15, 1985
- Maximum gross weight: 3,600 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-520-BA2 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SRQ Sarasota FL at 4:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 060° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 6,000 ft; scat at 2,000 ft
- Temperature: 88°F (31°C), dew point 75°F (24°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 4:50 pm from FMY, 42 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 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.
Other NTSB records under N9031S the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.