# Accident 20160516005089A: Beech A36TC, Tupelo, MS, May 16, 2016

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: May 16, 2016, 08:32 local time
- Place: Tupelo, MS
- Airport: Tupelo Regional Airport
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Takeoff: Climb Out
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 34.2911° N, 88.7653° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.2911&lon=-88.7653&mi=10
- Aircraft: N60RW, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N60RW-2018-04-25) (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: 4
- Fatal injuries: 4
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Airline transport, flight instructor
- Pilot flight hours: 5,675 total
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ERA16FA185](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA16FA185) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20160516005089A

## Narrative

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

ON MAY 16, 2016 ABOUT 0835 BEECH A36TC N60RW IMPACTED TERRAIN NORTH OF THE TUPELO AIRPORT (TUP). AN INSTRUMENT FLIGHT PLAN WAS FILED FOR THIS FLIGHT.  ACCORDING TO AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL RECORDINGS, SHORTLY AFTER DEPARTING RUNWAY 36, THE PILOT ADVISED THE TOWER CONTROLLER THAT THERE WAS SMOKE IN THE COCKPIT AND THAT THEY NEEDED TO RETURN TO THE AIRPORT. ACCORDING TO WITNESSES, THE AIRPLANE MADE A LEFT, WESTBOUND TURN, AT AN ALTITUDE OF ABOUT 500-1,000 FEET. WITNESSES REPORTED SEEING THE AIRPLANE TURNING BACK TOWARDS THE APPROACH END OF RUNWAY 18. WITNESSES ALSO REPORTED SEEING THE AIRPLANE IN A DESCENT WITH SMOKE AND FLAMES COMING FROM THE FRONT LEFT SIDE OF THE AIRPLANE BEFORE HEARING IT IMPACT TERRAIN.

THE WRECKAGE WAS MOSTLY CONSUMED BY FIRE. THE AIRPLANE STRUCK SEVERAL TREES ALONG AN ESTIMATED 190 FEET DURING ITS DESCENT TO WHERE IT IMPACTED TERRAIN. ALL FLIGHT CONTROLS WERE ACCOUNTED FOR AT THE ACCIDENT SITE. FLIGHT CONTROL CONTINUITY WAS CONFIRMED TO RESPECTIVE INPUTS. THE OUTBOARD PORTION OF THE RIGHT WING WAS SEPARATED FROM THE AIRPLANE AND HEAVILY BURNED ABOUT 60 FEET FROM THE MAIN WRECKAGE. THE LEFT WING WAS STILL ATTACHED TO THE FUSELAGE. THE PROPELLER BLADES SIGNS OF BENDING AND GOUGING. A FEW PROPELLER CHOP MARKS WERE VISIBLE ON THE LIMBS. THE EXHAUST PIPE WAS MISSING FROM THE ENGINE AT THE ACCIDENT SITE.

THE EXHAUST PIPE, FRACTURED V-BAND CLAMP AND TWO PIECES OF HEAT INSULATION WRAP WERE RECOVERED FROM THE RUNWAY BY AIRPORT PERSONNEL. THE ITEMS WERE FOUND IN THE FOLLOWING ORDER FROM INITIAL TAKE OFF ROLL:  10 PIECE OF INSULATION WRAP, 2) PIECE OF INSULATION WRAP, 3) V-BAND CLAMP, 4) EXHAUST PIPE.

## 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 ERA16FA185](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA16FA185), May 16, 2016: Beech A36TC (N60RW), Tupelo, MS, destroyed, 4 fatal. Probable cause: A preexisting stress rupture that initiated at a spot weld in the turbocharger v-band exhaust clamp, which resulted in the failure of the clamp and separation of the exhaust tailpipe, an in-flight…

## Other reports on N60RW (1)

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

- [Incident 19930213006319I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19930213006319I), Feb 13, 1993: Beech A36TC (N60RW), Norman, OK, Minor damage. Electrical power failure on final. Throttle stuck. Found throttle cable had chafed into battery cable.

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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