Beech A36 accident near Brinnon, Washington, June 21, 1995
On June 21, 1995, a Beech A36, registered N20239, was destroyed in an accident near Brinnon, 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 CONTINUED VFR FLIGHT INTO INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS, AND HIS FAILURE TO MAINTAIN CLEARANCE FROM THE TERRAIN. FACTORS IN THE ACCIDENT WERE THE MOUNTAINS AND THE CLOUDS.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 21, 1995
- Place
- Brinnon, 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
- N20239 · no longer on the register · serial E-1337
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING A VFR CROSS COUNTRY FLIGHT, THE PILOT HAD CONTACTED APPROACH CONTROL AND ADVISED THE CONTROLLER THAT HE WAS UNFAMILIAR WITH THE AREA AND REQUESTED VECTORS. THE CONTROLLER RESPONDED TO THE PILOT BY INFORMING HIM TO REMAIN VFR AND UTILIZE HIS OWN NAVIGATION. RADAR DATA INDICATES THAT THE AIRPLANE WAS HEADING TOWARD MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN, AT A LEVEL ALTITUDE, AND 153 KNOTS WHEN THE TARGET WAS LOST NEAR THE MOUNTAINS. WRECKAGE DOCUMENTATION INDICATES THAT THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH THE MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN AT A HIGH SPEED AND ON THE APPROXIMATE HEADING AND ALTITUDE AS THE LAST RADAR TARGET. THE WRECKAGE WAS LOCATED AT THE 3,200-FOOT LEVEL OF A MOUNTAIN. A WITNESS IN THE AREA REPORTED THAT THE MOUNTAINS WERE COMPLETELY OBSCURED WITH CLOUDS AND VISIBILITY WAS LIMITED. NO EVIDENCE WAS FOUND TO INDICATE A MECHANICAL FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION.
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
- Flight time: 1,525 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,622 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 4, 1995
- Maximum gross weight: 3,600 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-520-BA14B (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: O39 Port Townsend WA
- Destination: EUG Eugene OR
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 3,400 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 59°F (15°C), dew point 50°F (10°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.