Beech A36 accident near Montauk, New York, November 13, 1988
On November 13, 1988 at about 9:35 pm local time, a Beech A36, registered N722BH, was substantially damaged in an accident near Montauk, New York (Montauk airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 3 people were seriously injured; 2 others were unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
LOSS OF CONTROL, INFLIGHT, WHILE LANDING, DUE TO LOW LEVEL WIND SHEAR.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 13, 1988 · about 9:35 pm local time
- Place
- Montauk, New York · Montauk · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 3 people were seriously injured; 2 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech A36 · all A36s on the register
- Registration
- N722BH · no longer on the register · serial E444
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT MADE A VOR RWY 6 APCH & CIRCLED TO LAND ON RWY 24. HE RPRTD THAT WHILE ON A SHORT FINAL APCH, THE ACFT WAS THROWN VIOLENTLY ABOUT & THE LEFT WING DIPPED. HE APPLIED FULL POWER & LEVELED THE WINGS, BUT THE ACFT CONTD TO DESCEND. REALIZING HE COULD NOT REACH THE RWY, HE 'CUT' THE POWER, TURNED OFF THE ELECTRICAL MASTER SWITCHES & TRIED TO PLACE THE ACFT ON THE BEST TERRAIN. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE ACFT IMPACTED IN AN AREA OF SAND DUNES ON A HDG OF 240 DEG & CAME TO REST AFTER TRAVELING ABOUT 33 FT. WITNESSES IN THE AREA RPRTD STRONG WINDS, REDUCED VISIBILITY, & RAIN SHOWERS. THE PLT SAID IT WAS NOT RAINING WHEN THE ACFT CRASHED, BUT HEAVY RAIN STARTED TO FALL IMMEDIATELY AFTERWARD.
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: 1,047 hours in all; 750 in this make and model; 26 in the last 90 days; 12 in the last 30 days; 1,047 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,950 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 26, 1988; 50 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,500 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-520 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: BTV Burlington VT at 6:30 pm
- Destination: MTP
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 24, 3,472 ft by 85 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: dusk
- Wind: from 240° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 3 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 5,000 ft; scat at 500 ft
- Temperature: 57°F (14°C), dew point 54°F (12°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 9:45 pm from FOK, 35 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 | 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.