Beech A36 accident near Middlebourne, West Virginia, October 20, 1992
On October 20, 1992 at about 6:40 pm local time, a Beech A36, registered N1582L, was destroyed in an accident near Middlebourne, West Virginia. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S DECISION TO INTENTIONALLY FLY INTO KNOWN ICING CONDITIONS WHICH RESULTED IN AN INADVERTENT STALL AND UNCONTROLLED DESCENT INTO TREES. A FACTOR RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE ICING CONDITIONS.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 20, 1992 · about 6:40 pm local time
- Place
- Middlebourne, West Virginia · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech A36 · all A36s on the register
- Registration
- N1582L · registry record · serial E-289
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT'S WX BRIEF INCLUDED A FLT PRECAUTION FOR OCCASIONAL MODERATE ICING CONDITIONS. LATER HE RECEIVED A PILOT REPORT OF MODERATE RIME ICING ALONG HIS ROUTE OF FLIGHT, AND AT HIS PROPOSED FLT ALT. THE AIRPLANE WAS EQUIPPED WITH A HEATED PITOT TUBE AND A HEATED PROPELLER. APPROX 1 HR AFTER DEPARTURE THE AIRPLANE STARTED AN UNCONTROLLED DESCENT FROM THE ASSIGNED ALTITUDE OF 9000 FT. THE PILOT REPORTED HE WAS UNABLE TO MAINTAIN HIS ALTITUDE DUE TO ICE AFTER THE AIRPLANE HAD DESCENDED OVER 1000 FT. HE WAS CLEARED FIRST TO 6000 FT, AND THEN 4000 FT, BOTH OF WHICH HE WAS UNABLE TO MAINTAIN. HE WAS LAST OBSERVED ON RADAR, DESCENDING THROUGH 2400 FT. A WITNESS ON THE GROUND SAW THE AIRPLANE IN A NOSE HIGH ATTITUDE WITH THE WINGS ROCKING FROM SIDE TO SIDE. HE SAID THE NOSE SUDDENLY PITCHED DOWN AND THE AIRPLANE DESCENDED INTO TREES FROM WHICH A FIREBALL WAS OBSERVED TO EMANATE. RADAR DATA SHOWED AN APPROX 15 KNOT REDUCTION IN GROUND SPEED, IN THE 5 MINUTES PRECEDING THE DESCENT.
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: 300 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 10, 1992
- Maximum gross weight: 3,600 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-520-BA (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: MFD Mansfield OH at 5:46 pm
- Destination: CHO Charlottesville VA
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 170° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 6,500 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 45°F (7°C), dew point 28°F (-2°C)
- Observation at 6:50 pm from PKB, 28 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.