Beech A36 accident near Punta Gorda, Florida, April 11, 1991
On April 11, 1991 at about 4:30 pm local time, a Beech A36, registered N7231L, was substantially damaged in an accident near Punta Gorda, Florida (Braukman Ranch 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
DELAY OF THE PILOT TO ABORT THE TAKEOFF FROM THE PRIVATE GRASS AIRSTRIP RESULTING IN THE AIRPLANE OVERRUNNING THE RUNWAY AND COLLIDING WITH A DITCH.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 11, 1991 · about 4:30 pm local time
- Place
- Punta Gorda, Florida · Braukman Ranch
- 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
- N7231L · no longer on the register · serial E-2241
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT ABORTED THE TAKEOFF FROM THE PVT 1,800-FT LONG GRASS STRIP BUT WAS UNABLE TO STOP THE ACFT BEFORE IT RAN OFF THE END OF THE RWY INTO A DITCH. THERE WAS NO REPORTED ENGINE FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,980 hours in all; 1,500 in this make and model; 25 in the last 90 days; 12 in the last 30 days; 2,980 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,600 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-550-B (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 5, 1,800 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 090° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 4,900 ft
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 63°F (17°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 4:51 pm from FMY, 16 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.