# Accident 20260730012159A: Beech A36, Danbury, CT, July 30, 2026

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: July 30, 2026, 18:10 local time
- Place: Danbury, CT
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 41.2566° N, 73.3740° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.2566&lon=-73.3740&mi=10
- Aircraft: N9144Q, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N9144Q) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Beech A36 (registry code 1151604, https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-a36) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Continental IO-520 series (registry code 17032, https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-520-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BEECH A36
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 605 total, 127 in this make and model, 21 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ERA26LA289](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA26LA289) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20260730012159A

## Narrative

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

ON JULY 30, 2026, AT APPROXIMATELY 1700 EASTERN DAYLIGHT TIME, ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ DEPARTED WESTCHESTER COUNTY AIRPORT (HPN), WHITE PLAINS, NEW YORK, BOUND FOR NEWPORT STATE AIRPORT (UUU), NEWPORT, RHODE ISLAND, UNDER VFR CONDITIONS. THE PILOT STATED PRIOR TO DEPARTURE, HE CONDUCTED A PREFLIGHT INSPECTION, TOPPED OFF THE FUEL, AND OBTAINED A COMPLETE WEATHER BRIEFING. AS PART OF THE PREFLIGHT INSPECTION, THE PILOT OPENED BOTH SIDES OF THE UPPER ENGINE COWLING TO INSPECT THE ENGINE, SUBSEQUENTLY CLOSING AND LATCHING THE COWLING.

SHORTLY AFTER DEPARTING RUNWAY 11 AT HPN, WHILE IN LEVEL CRUISE AT APPROXIMATELY 2,500 FEET AND SEVEN MINUTES INTO THE FLIGHT, THE FRONT-RIGHT ENGINE COWLING UNLATCHED AND BEGAN FLAPPING VIOLENTLY. THE PILOT ADJUSTED AIRSPEED AND ALTITUDE, INITIATED AN IMMEDIATE DIVERSION TOWARD DANBURY MUNICIPAL AIRPORT (DXR), AND RECONTACTED HPN TOWER TO REQUEST THE DXR FREQUENCY. THE PILOT DECLARED AN EMERGENCY, SQUAWKED CODE 7700, AND WAS HANDED OVER TO DANBURY TOWER. EN ROUTE TO DXR, THE LOOSE RIGHT COWLING DOOR KINKED INWARD, WHICH STABILIZED THE FLAPPING.

THE PILOT EXECUTED A STRAIGHT-IN APPROACH AND NORMAL LANDING ON RUNWAY 35 AT DXR, TAXIED CLEAR, AND HELD ON THE TAXIWAY FOR EMERGENCY SERVICES AND THE AIRPORT MANAGER. A POST-LANDING INSPECTION REVEALED DAMAGE TO THE RIGHT ENGINE COWLING AND LATCH ASSEMBLY, AS WELL AS A MISSING INNER COWLING BAFFLE THAT HAD DETACHED DURING THE FLIGHT. THE DETACHED BAFFLE CAUSED SUBSTANTIAL IMPACT DAMAGE TO THE RIGHT HORIZONTAL STABILIZER.

## 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 ERA26LA289](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA26LA289), Jul 30, 2026: Beech A36 (N9144Q), Weston, CT, substantial damage. Probable cause: The in-flight opening of the engine cowling, which resulted in engine baffling separating from the airplane and impacting the right elevator.

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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