# Accident 20161212019349A: Beech A36, New Smyrna, FL, December 12, 2016

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: December 12, 2016, 17:40 local time
- Place: New Smyrna, FL
- Airport: Spruce Creek
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Other, Specify
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 29.0519° N, 81.0353° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.0519&lon=-81.0353&mi=10
- Aircraft: N776WM, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N776WM-2018-05-31) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Beech A36 (registry code 1151604, https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-a36) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Continental IO-550-B (registry code 17208, https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-550-b) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BEECH A36
- Reported engine: CONT MOTOR IO-550-B
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 1
- Pilot certificates: Airline transport, flight instructor
- Pilot flight hours: 15,880 total, 173 in this make and model, 48 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ERA17CA068](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA17CA068) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20161212019349A

## Narrative

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

^MR. KRAUS^ FLEW FROM CONNETICUT TO SPRUCE CREEK, FL A WEEK PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT.  DURING THAT FLIGHT THE AIRCRAFT CABIN WAS REPORTED AS BEING COLD DUE TO AN AIR LEAK AROUND THE EMERGENCY WINDOW BEHIND THE PILOT SEAT.  PRIOR TO ^MR. KRAUS^ DEPARTURE BACK TO CONNETICUT, ^MR. KRAUS^ DECIDED TO PUT PAPER TOWELS AROUND THE WINDOW TO STOP THE AIR LEAK.  ^MR. KRAUS^ OPENED THE WINDOW TO INSPECT THE SEAL AND DETERMINED THAT IT WILL NEED TO BE REPLACED.  ^MR. KRAUS^ THEN DECIDED TO FLY THE AIRCRAFT AROUND THE TRAFFIC PATTERN AT SPRUCE CREEK AIRPORT TO SEE IF THERE WAS STILL AN AIR LEAK FROM THE EMERGENCY WINDOW.  WHILE ON DOWNWIND THE EMERGENCY WINDOW CAME OPEN PART WAY.  ^MR. KRAUS^ WAS ABLE TO REACH BACK AND CLOSE THE WINDOW.  THEN THE WINDOW OPENED FULLY.  ^MR. KRAUS^ DECIDED TO TURN ON THE AUTOPILOT BY SELECTING HDG AND ALT.  WHILE THE AUTOPILOT WAS FLYING ^MR. KRAUS^ ATTEMPTED TO CLOSE THE WINDOW.  WHEN ^MR. KRAUS^ FINALLY GOT THE WINDOW CLOSED AND LOOKED FORWARD THE AIRCRAFT WAS LOW TO THE GROUND AND HEADED FOR THE TREES.  HE SAID IT WASN'T BUT SECONDS AFTER HE LOOKED FORWARD AND HE WAS ON THE GROUND AND GOING THROUGH THE TREES.  ^MR. KRAUS^ WAS ABLE TO EVACUATE THE AIRCRAFT WITH THE HELP OF CIVILIANS CLOSE BY.  THE AIRCRAFT CAUGHT FIRE ON THE RIGHT SIDE.  DUE TO THE PENETRATION OF THE RIGHT FUEL TANK.

## 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 ERA17CA068](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA17CA068), Dec 12, 2016: Beech A36 (N776WM), New Smyrna Beach, FL, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's inappropriate response to an emergency exit window opening in flight, which resulted in a loss of control, precautionary off-airport landing, and subsequent impact with trees.…

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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