Beech A36 accident near Cherokee, Iowa, March 15, 1988
On March 15, 1988 at about 1:15 pm local time, a Beech A36, registered N8136R, was substantially damaged in an accident near Cherokee, Iowa. It was a personal 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
- March 15, 1988 · about 1:15 pm local time
- Place
- Cherokee, Iowa · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech A36 · all A36s on the register
- Registration
- N8136R · registry record · serial E612
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT STATED, THAT SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF, THE ENGINE LOST SUBSTANTIAL PWR. AFTERWARDS THERE WAS SMOKE IN THE COCKPIT. THE PIC REVERSED HIS COURSE WITH THE INTENT TO LAND ON THE DEPARTURE ARPT. WHEN HE FELT HE HAD THE LDG FIELD MADE, HE ATTEMPTED TO LOWER THE LDG GEAR. THE RED GEAR UNSAFE LIGHT ILLUMINATED, SO HE ATTEMPTED TO LWR THE GEAR USING THE EMERGENCY CRANK DOWN PROCEDURES. HE FAILED TO GET FULL GEAR EXTENSION BEFORE STRIKING THE TERRAIN SHORT OF THE INTENDED LDG FIELD. POSTFLIGHT INSPECTION REVEALED A BROKEN EXHAUST PIPE FLANGE ON #5 CYLINDER, ALLOWING EXHAUST GAS TO MELT AN ALTERNATOR WIRE, AND REDUCING THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE TURBOCHARGER ON THE MODIFIED ENGINE INSTALLATION.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 605 hours in all; 87 in this make and model; 30 in the last 90 days; 467 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,003 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection; 110 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,650 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming TIO-540-J2BD (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Dga INC.
The flight
- Departed from: CKP Cherokee IA at 1:10 pm
- Destination: Y46 Bedford IA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 320° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 18°F (-8°C), dew point 10°F (-12°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 1:52 pm from DSM, 80 miles away
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.