Beech A36 accident near Meriden, Connecticut, May 24, 1996
On May 24, 1996 at about 8:45 pm local time, a Beech A36, registered N59WW, was destroyed in an accident near Meriden, Connecticut (Meriden Markham Municipal airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the pilot's improper planning/decision, his failure to use takeoff power, and his premature lift-off of the airplane, which resulted in an inadvertent stall/mush and subsequent collision with terrain. Factors relating to the accident were: the pilot allowing the airplane's maximum takeoff weight to be exceeded, and the tailwind.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 24, 1996 · about 8:45 pm local time
- Place
- Meriden, Connecticut · Meriden Markham Municipal
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech A36 · all A36s on the register
- Registration
- N59WW · no longer on the register · serial E-2224
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot initiated a downwind takeoff on runway 18 with two passengers aboard. He said that after a 600 foot ground run, he rotated the airplane for takeoff, and it climbed about 40 feet above the runway, then it stopped climbing and stopped accellerating. According to witnesses, the airplane entered a steep nose high attitude during takeoff, then after climbing briefly, the wings rocked (or wobbled) to the left and right. The pilot lowered the nose briefly and said he increased engine power '2 ticks into the yellow (arc).' He aborted the climb and attempted to land. After ground contact, the airplane veered off the runway. After stopping, a fire erupted, which resulted in further damage. The airplane's reciprocating engine had been replaced with an Allison 250-B17C, turbine engine per Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) SA3523NM, by Tradewind Turbines, Amarillo, TX. The wind was estimated to be from 350 degrees at 15 knots. The Pilot's Operating Handbook showed that a ground roll of 1,800 feet would have been required for the takeoff conditions. The airplane was estimated to be 76 pounds over its maximum takeoff weight and about 2 inches beyond the forward center of gravity (CG) limit (as listed in the STC). Also, the pilot did not use maximum power for takeoff as described in the STC.
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; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 2,500 hours in all; 283 in this make and model; 80 in the last 90 days; 25 in the last 30 days; 2,500 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,352 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 24, 1995; 90 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,833 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Allison 250-B17C (turboprop); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: MMK at 8:39 pm
- Destination: 2B3 Newport NH
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 18, 3,100 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 350° at 15 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 39°F (4°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 8:45 pm from HFD, 18 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.