Beech A36 accident near Bradford, Pennsylvania, November 8, 1990
On November 8, 1990 at about 1:40 am local time, a Beech A36, registered N422M, was destroyed in an accident near Bradford, Pennsylvania (Bradford Regional airport). It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE TERRAIN CLEARANCE WHILE MANEUVERING TO LAND DURING AN INSTRUMENT APPROACH. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO OBTAIN A WEATHER BRIEFING PRIOR TO DEPARTURE, HIS DELAYED DECISION TO MAKE AN EMERGECY LANDING AFTER ENCOUNTERING ICING CONDITIONS EN ROUTE, ICE ACCUMULATION ON THE AIRPLANE, AND THE DARK NIGHT.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 8, 1990 · about 1:40 am local time
- Place
- Bradford, Pennsylvania · Bradford Regional · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Beech A36 · all A36s on the register
- Registration
- N422M · registry record · serial E-542
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
AT 1948 THE PILOT HAD REQUESTED A LOWER ALTITUDE, AT 1958 REPORTED HAVING DIFFICULTY MAINTAINING ALTITUDE, AND AT 2003 ADVISED HE NEEDED TO LAND AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. WHILE BEING SUBSEQUENTLY VECTORED HE REPORTED HE WAS STILL PICKING UP SOME ICE BUT ABLE TO MAINTAIN AIRSPEED. HE WAS CLEARED FOR AN ILS RWY 32 APPROACH INTP BRADFORD REGIONAL. AT 2037 THE PILOT REPORTED '...I HAVE THE AIRPORT.' RADAR CONTACT WAS LOST AT THE VOR (LOM). THE WRECKAGE PATH WAS ON AN EASTERLY HEADING. TREE DAMAGE INDICATED THE AIRPLANE WAS IN ABOUT A 30 DEG LEFT WING LOW ATTITUDE. THE LANDING GEAR WAS DOWN.
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: 813 hours in all; 590 in this make and model; 119 in the last 90 days; 24 in the last 30 days
- 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-520-BA (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: OWD Norwood MA at 11:15 pm
- Destination: TOL Toledo OH
- Flight plan: VFR then IFR
- Runway 32, 6,499 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 280° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 1 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 900 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 32°F (0°C), dew point 30°F (-1°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 1:59 am from BFD, 30 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.