Beech A36 accident near Olean, New York, May 9, 1996
On May 9, 1996 at about 1:10 pm local time, a Beech A36, registered N65792, was substantially damaged in an accident near Olean, New York (Cattaraugus County-Olean airport). It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 5 people had minor injuries. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the pilot's improper IFR procedure by not maintaining the minimum descent altitude (MDA) during the ILS localizer approach. Factors relating to the accident were: low ceiling, fog, and weather below minimums for landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 9, 1996 · about 1:10 pm local time
- Place
- Olean, New York · Cattaraugus County-Olean · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 5 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Beech A36 · all A36s on the register
- Registration
- N65792 · no longer on the register · serial E-2066
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot was conducting an ILS localizer approach to runway 22 at Olean. The hourly weather observation at the time of the accident was indefinite ceiling zero and zero visibility with light rain and fog. During the approach, the airplane collided with trees approximately 600 feet to the left of the runway. According to 14 CFR Part 91.175, no pilot may descend below the authorized minimum descent altitude (MDA) unless the flight visibility is not less than the visibility prescribed in the standard instrument approach being used. The ILS runway 22 localizer approach at Olean required a visibility of 1 mile.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 490 hours in all; 5 in this make and model; 51 in the last 90 days; 18 in the last 30 days; 410 as pilot in command; 70 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,410 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 7, 1996; 3 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: 4B6 Ticonderoga NY at 11:00 am
- Destination: OLE
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 22, 4,699 ft by 100 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Sky: not recorded
- Temperature: 52°F (11°C), dew point 52°F (11°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 12:45 pm from OLE
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
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.