# Accident 20120815023039A: Beech A36TC, Clifton Park, NY, August 15, 2012

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: August 15, 2012, 07:27 local time
- Place: Clifton Park, NY
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Takeoff: Climb Out
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 42.8017° N, 73.7931° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.8017&lon=-73.7931&mi=10
- Aircraft: N678DR, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N678DR-2012-11-06) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Beech A36TC (registry code 1151603, https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-a36tc) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Continental TSIO-520 series (registry code 17040, https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-tsio-520-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BEECH A36TC
- Reported engine: CONT MOTOR TSIO-520 SER
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 2
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Airline transport, commercial pilot, flight instructor
- Pilot flight hours: 10,691 total, 1,100 in this make and model, 212 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ERA12FA508](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA12FA508) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20120815023039A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

ON 15 AUGUST 2012 AT APPROXIMATELY 0723 EST N678DR, BE-36- A36TC DEPARTED ALB IFR TO PBG. IMMEDIATELY AFTER DEPARTURE THE PILOT ADVISED ALB APPROACH THAT HE LOST HIS ENGINE.  APPROACH ASKED THE PILOT IF HE WOULD LIKE TO RETURN TO ALB AND HE SAID HE WOULD LAND STRAIGHT AHEAD. APPROACH LOST RADAR AND COMMUNICATIONS. LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT REPORTS AIRCRAFT WENT DOWN OFF ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^, CLIFTON PARK, NY 12065. THERE WAS NO POSTCRASH FIRE, BUT THE AIRCRAFT SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE AT IMPACT INTO TREES AT 0727 EST. FIRE DEPARTMENT RESPONDERS INITIALLY APPLIED CLASS A FOAM FIRE RETARDANT FOLLOWED BY AFFF CHEMICAL DUE TO A STRONG SMELL OF 100LL AVGAS.  MEDICAL RESPONDERS CUT THE LAPBELT AND SHOULDER HARNESSES OF THE RIGHT SEAT OCCUPANT IN ORDER TO EXTRICATE THE VICTIMS.  THE LEFT SEAT OCCPANT SUSTAINED CRITICAL INJURIES AND WAS AIRLIFTED TO ALBANY MEDICAL CENTER.  THE RIGHT SEAT OCCUPANT RECEIVED FATAL INJURIES AT THE ACCIDENT SITE. THE AIRCRAFT ENERGY PATH WAS DETERMINED TO BE 320 DEGREES, WITH A  DISTANCE OF APPROXIMATELY 136 FEET FROM AIRCRAFT  INITIAL IMPACT POINT TO THE MAIN WRECKAGE.  THE DISTANCE FROM THE INITIAL GROUND SCAR TO THE MAIN WRECKAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 46 FEET, WITH THE MAIN WRECKAGE ORIENTED AT 280 DEGREES.  ONCE ON SCENE FAA REMOVED AND DISARMED THE ELT, BUT COULD NOT DETERMINE IF THE UNIT WAS TRANSMITTING. THE AIRCRAFT MAIN BATTERY SEPARATED AT IMPACT AND WAS APPROXIMATELY 12 FEET FROM THE MAIN WRECKAGE.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB ERA12FA508](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA12FA508), Aug 15, 2012: Beech A36TC (N678DR), Clifton Park, NY, substantial damage, 2 fatal. Probable cause: A total loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined during the postaccident investigation and testing.

## Other reports on N678DR (1)

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

- [Incident 19980323009249I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980323009249I), Mar 23, 1998: Beech A36TC (N678DR), Cleveland, OH. Narrative: pilot thought he was positioning on 23L, after sunset, when in fact he was positioned on 23R. Pilot told to position and hold on 23R, acknowledged…

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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