Beech A36 accident near Daytona Beach, Florida, January 27, 1989
On January 27, 1989 at about 1:40 am local time, a Beech A36, registered N2860W, was substantially damaged in an accident near Daytona Beach, Florida (Spruce Creek airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
FAILURE OF THE DRIVER OF THE AUTOMOBILE TO MAINTAIN AN ADEQUATE VISUAL LOOKOUT AND TO YIELD THE RIGHT OF WAY TO THE AIRCRAFT.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 27, 1989 · about 1:40 am local time
- Place
- Daytona Beach, Florida · Spruce Creek
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech A36 · all A36s on the register
- Registration
- N2860W · registry record · serial E-447
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE TAXIING TO TAKEOFF FROM THE AVTN COMMUNITY ARPT DURING A DARK NIGHT WITH THE LANDING, BEACON, STROBE, & NAVIGATION LIGHTS ON, THE PLT OBSERVED A VEHICLE APPROACHING HEAD-ON. HE STOPPED THE ACFT & WAITED FOR THE VEHICLE TO PULL OFF THE TAXIWAY BUT THE CAR CONTINUED & DROVE UNDER THE LEFT WING DAMAGING IT & THE ROOF & WINDSHIELD OF THE AUTOMOBILE. THE ACFT SPUN TO THE LEFT & CAME TO REST. THE AUTOMOBILE CONTINUED FWD THEN CAME TO REST BEHIND THE ACFT.
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, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 28,000 hours in all; 200 in this make and model; 75 in the last 90 days; 40 in the last 30 days; 20,000 as pilot in command; 500 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,421 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 11, 1988; 35 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,600 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-520-BA (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: DAB Daytona Beach FL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 140° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 5,500 ft
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 57°F (14°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 1:48 am from DAB, 7 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.