Beech A36 accident near Aberdeen, Washington, December 14, 1992
On December 14, 1992 at about 1:20 am local time, a Beech A36, registered N7285R, was destroyed in an accident near Aberdeen, Washington. It was a personal 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 PROPER ALTITUDE, AND AN INADEQUATE VISUAL LOOKOUT. FACTORS INCLUDE WEATHER BELOW APPROACH MINIMUMS, FOG, DRIZZLE, AND A DARK NIGHT.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 14, 1992 · about 1:20 am local time
- Place
- Aberdeen, Washington · 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
- N7285R · no longer on the register · serial E-636
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE AIRCRAFT, WHICH WAS ON THE FINAL APPROACH SEGMENT OF A VOR/DME APPROACH, WAS SEEN JUST BELOW THE CLOUDS, AND LESS THAN 100 FEET ABOVE THE TREES ABOUT ONE TO TWO MILES BEFORE THE IMPACT POINT. THE CEILING AROUND THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT WAS APPROXIMATELY 270 FEET LOWER THAN THE MINIMUM DESCENT ALTITUDE (MDA) FOR THE APPROACH. WITNESSES REPORTED THAT IT WAS A DARK NIGHT, AND THAT DRIZZLE AND FOG WERE BEING BLOWN THROUGH THE HILLS IN THE AREA OF THE IMPACT. WITNESSES WHO SAW THE AIRCRAFT JUST PRIOR TO THE CRASH SAID THAT THE ENGINE SOUNDS APPEARED NORMAL AND STEADY, AND THAT THE AIRCRAFT WAS FLYING NEARLY WINGS LEVEL. THE PILOT HAD TOLD THE AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLER THAT HE INTENDED TO BREAK OUT ON THIS APPROACH, AND THEN PROCEED TO A NEARBY AIRPORT WHICH DID NOT HAVE A PUBLISHED INSTRUMENT PROCEDURE.
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: airline transport pilot, flight instructor
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 22,500 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 21, 1992
- Maximum gross weight: 3,600 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-520-BA10 (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Wilee Corporation
The flight
- Departed from: S42 Silverdale WA
- Destination: WO4 Ocean Shores WA
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 080° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 1 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 500 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 45°F (7°C), dew point 43°F (6°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
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.