Beech A36 accident near Southbury, Connecticut, May 5, 1992
On May 5, 1992 at about 1:12 pm local time, a Beech A36, registered N36MR, was destroyed in an accident near Southbury, Connecticut (Waterbury-Oxford airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MONITOR HIS FUEL SUPPLY WHICH RESULTED IN A POWER LOSS DUE TO FUEL EXHAUSTION AND AN INADVERTENT STALL/SPIN AS THE PILOT WAS MANEUVERING FOR A FORCED LANDING. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WAS IMPROPER MAINTENANCE ON THE FUEL CAPS AND FUEL SIPHONING.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 5, 1992 · about 1:12 pm local time
- Place
- Southbury, Connecticut · Waterbury-Oxford
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech A36 · all A36s on the register
- Registration
- N36MR · registry record · serial E-1419
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
AFTER APPROX 4 HOURS OF FLIGHT THE ENGINE LOST POWER DUE TO FUEL EXHAUSTION. WHILE MANEUVERING FOR A FORCED LANDING OVER A WOODED AREA, THE AIRPLANE ENTERED AN INADVERTENT STALL/SPIN AND CRASHED IN A CREEK. FUEL STAINS WERE FOUND BEHIND THE FUEL CAP ON THE LEFT WING. WHEN TESTED, BOTH FUEL CAPS LEAKED. THE CAPS SHOWED EVIDENCE OF HAVING BEEN ADJUSTED IN THE FIELD TO A LOOSER FIT. NO FIELD ADJUSTMENTS OF THE CAP ARE AUTHORIZED. THERE WERE NO REPORTED PROBLEMS WITH THE COCKPIT FUEL GAUGES.
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: 1,749 hours in all; 142 in this make and model; 38 in the last 90 days; 20 in the last 30 days; 1,676 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,870 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 8, 1990; 190 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,600 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-520-BB (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 49J Hilton Head SC at 9:11 am
- Destination: 44N Millbrook NY
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 070° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 6,500 ft; scat at 5,500 ft
- Temperature: 45°F (7°C), dew point 27°F (-3°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 1:20 pm from OXC, 2 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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.
Other NTSB records under N36MR the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.