Raytheon A36 accident near Pahokee, Florida, February 20, 2008
On February 20, 2008 at about 4:19 pm local time, a Raytheon A36, registered N36GJ, was substantially damaged in an accident during enroute (cruise) near Pahokee, Florida. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's decision to depart with a known deficiency with the engine, which resulted in a loss of engine power. Contributing to the accident was the loss of engine power due to the failure of the engine-driven fuel pump.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 20, 2008 · about 4:19 pm local time
- Place
- Pahokee, Florida · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Raytheon A36
- Registration
- N36GJ · registry record · serial E-3020
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
Prior to the accident flight and shortly after departure, the airplane's engine began to "surge." The pilot was able to divert to a nearby airport, and landed uneventfully. After landing, the pilot examined the engine, and checked the fuel system for leaks or contamination. He observed no anomalies and decided to depart again, after performing a run-up inspection. After departure, when the airplane was about 9 miles from the airport, and an altitude of about 2,000 feet, the engine lost power. The pilot prepared for a forced landing, and attempted unsuccessfully to restart the engine by switching fuel tanks and turning on the fuel boost pump. The airplane touched down in a field, the landing gear "dug in," and the airplane nosed down, substantially damaging the firewall. Examination of the engine revealed the engine-driven fuel pump vane cavity displayed rust and corrosion. The cavity was rinsed with a mixture of aviation gasoline and penetrating oil, and the pump was then able to rotate. It was reassembled for a functional test, and produced both low and high-end pressures without any anomalies. The fuel pump had been documented as being overhauled and then installed about 2 months prior to the accident and had accumulated 12 hours since 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
What happened, in order
- Loss of engine power (total) during enroute (cruise) defining event
- Off-field or emergency landing during emergency descent
- Nose over/nose down during landing (flare/touchdown)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Decision making/judgment › Pilot
- factor Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Fuel system › Fuel pumps › Fatigue/wear/corrosion
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 3,500 hours in all; 900 in this make and model; 12 in the last 90 days; 10 in the last 30 days
- Last flight review: January 9, 2007
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,250 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 16, 2007; 12 hours since
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-550 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: PHK Pahokee FL at 4:15 pm
- Destination: NEW New Orleans LA
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 080° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 3,600 ft
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
- Altimeter: 30.21 inHg
- Observation at 3:53 pm from PBI, 28 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 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.