# NTSB CEN20LA346: Beech 36, N3256V, San Benito, TX, August 16, 2020 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report - Date: August 16, 2020, 13:00 local (18:00 UTC) - Place: San Benito, TX - Coordinates: 26.129674, -97.629089 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=26.1297&lon=-97.6291&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Takeoff: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious, 1 minor - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 3 - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: San Antonio FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 101810 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN20LA346 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/101810/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=101810 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN20LA346 ## Probable cause A loss of engine power for a reason that could not be determined. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Not determined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000): Not determined › Not determined · Unknown/Not determined (probable cause); cases with it: [Beech A36, 23 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md?model=1151604), [All aircraft, 2,247 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Takeoff: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) (defining event); cases with it: [Beech A36, 56 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=1151604), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that shortly after takeoff from his private airstrip, the airplane’s engine lost partial power. He activated the electric fuel pump at which time the engine lost all power. The pilot attempted to return to his private airport but landed short with the landing gear retracted in a cotton field. The airplane's forward fuselage was substantially damaged. Examination of the airplane after the accident did not reveal any preimpact anomalies that would explain the loss of engine power. ## Factual narrative On August 16, 2020, about 1300 central daylight time, a Beech A36 airplane, N3256V, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near San Benito, Texas. The pilot was seriously injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. According to the pilot, shortly after takeoff from the Kornegay Private Airport (53XS), the engine lost partial power. He activated the electric fuel pump at which time the engine lost all power. The pilot attempted to return to his private airport but landed short with the landing gear retracted in a cotton field. The airplane's forward fuselage was substantially damaged. Postaccident examination of the airplane and engine was conducted following removal of the airplane from the accident site with no preimpact anomalies found with regard to the airframe, engine, or associated systems. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N3256V](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3256V-2021-05-22), registration cancelled 2021-05-22, S/N E-2956, built 1995 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Beech 36 (A36) - Registry model: [Beech A36](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-a36) (registry code 1151604) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental IO-550 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-550-series) (registry code 17042, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: E-2956 - Year built: 1995 - Airframe hours: 2912 - Engines: Continental IO-550-B1F 300 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, March 4, 2020 - Departed: 53XS, San Benito, TX - Destination: HRL, Harlingen, TX - Airport: 53XS, Kornegay Private - Equipment: Unknown ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 64; injuries: serious; commercial, airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review July 1, 2019; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 29,048 total, 1,500 in this make and model, 425 in the last 90 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 150° at 8 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 91 °F, dew point 72 °F - Altimeter: 30.01 inHg - Observed at: HRL, 6 nm away ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20200816018829A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20200816018829A), Aug 16, 2020: Beech A36, San Benito, TX, Substantial damage. Aug 16, 2020 at 1200 CDT, aircraft bearing registration number N3256V, lost power and landed gear up in a field just short of the runway near Kornegay Private… ## Docket (5 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 10, 2022, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=101810. 1.5 MB in all. - Summary of engine/airframe examination (item 1, PDF, 2 pages, 20 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11829358&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Examination%20Summary%20-%20CEN20LA346-Rel.pdf - Pilot statement (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 741 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11828748&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=CEN20LA346%20-%20Beech%20A36%20-%20N3256V%20-%20Pilot%20statement_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Weather information (item 3, PDF, 2 pages, 117 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11829463&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Metars-Rel.pdf - Statement of party representatives to NTSB investigation (item 4, PDF, 1 page, 555 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11829181&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%20Party%20Form%20TAI%20CEN20LA346_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Release of aircraft wreckage, NTSB form 6120.15 (item 5, PDF, 1 page, 93 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12600024&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Retention-Release-of-Wreckage-Form_Redacted-Rel.pdf 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.