# NTSB ERA24LA344: Beech A36, N718FG, Cullman, AL, August 2, 2024 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: August 2, 2024, 11:40 local (16:40 UTC) - Place: Cullman, AL · Grassy area adjacent to runway 20 - Coordinates: 34.260562, -86.860757 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.2606&lon=-86.8608&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Initial climb: Windshear or thunderstorm](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/390) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 3 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 194893 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA24LA344 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/194893/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=194893 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA24LA344 ## Probable cause The pilot’s decision to depart in an area of developing convective weather, which resulted in an unanticipated wind shift during the initial climb after takeoff, a loss of climb performance, and the subsequent forced landing. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Wind: sudden wind shift](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034010): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Beech A36, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034010/cases.md?model=1151604), [All aircraft, 114 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034010/cases.md) - [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Beech A36, 27 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=1151604), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md) - [Convective weather: thunderstorm](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03033010): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Decision related to condition (probable cause); cases with it: [Beech A36, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03033010/cases.md?model=1151604), [All aircraft, 100 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03033010/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Initial climb: Windshear or thunderstorm](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/390) (defining event); cases with it: [Beech A36, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/390/sequence.md?model=1151604), [All aircraft, 224 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/390/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090); cases with it: [Beech A36, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md?model=1151604), [All aircraft, 1,506 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md) - [Landing: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Beech A36, 20 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=1151604), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that, during the initial climb following a takeoff from runway 20, the airplane encountered an abrupt, unanticipated wind shift. The airplane was unable to gain altitude during the initial climb and the pilot elected to land the airplane on the remaining runway. During the landing, the airplane touched down with its landing gear retracted, overran the departure end of the runway, and came to rest in a grassy area. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage during the accident. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The surface weather observation reported at the airport about 5 minutes before the accident included wind from 200° at 12 knots, gusting to 18 knots, with thunderstorms noted in the vicinity and a remark of distant lightning from the west to northeast quadrants. The pilot stated that he was aware of the wind conditions and that during taxi he noted that the windsock validated the direction/speed. He also reported that it started to rain as he lined up on the runway for the takeoff. The weather conditions reported about 15 minutes after the accident included variable wind direction at a velocity of 5 knots with gusts to 28 knots, a visibility of ½ statute mile in heavy rain and thunderstorms, with lighting present in all quadrants. These weather observations surrounding the accident time were indicative of changing weather conditions associated with convective weather activity, which could include sudden wind shifts. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N718FG](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N718FG-2026-09-14), registration cancelled 2026-09-14, S/N E858, built 1976 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BEECH A36 - Registry model: [Beech A36](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-a36) (registry code 1151604) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental IO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-520-series) (registry code 17032, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: E858 - Year built: 1976 - Airframe hours: 3834 - Engines: Continental IO-520 SER 285 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Northwest Iowa Aviators LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, June 1, 2024 - Destination: IKV, Ankeny, IA - Airport: CMD, Cullman Regional Airport/Folsom Field, runway 20, 5,500 × 100 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Stall warning system, ADS-B ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 66; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: basicmed, without waivers/limitations; last flight review May 17, 2023; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 1,444 total, 264 in this make and model, 1,327 as pilot in command, 109 in the last 90 days, 36 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 12 knots, gusting 18 - Visibility: 9 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 5,500 ft broken - Temperature: 88 °F, dew point 77 °F - Altimeter: 30.01 inHg - Observed at: KCMD, 1 nm away - METAR: KCMD 021635Z AUTO 20012G18KT 9SM VCTS BKN055 31/25 A3001 RMK AO2 LTG DSNT W-NE ## 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 20240802020429A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20240802020429A), Aug 2, 2024: Beech A36, Vinemont, AL, Substantial damage. Aircraft experienced windshear while attempting to depart runway 02 ahead of approaching thunderstorm. Winds reversed direction causing the aircraft to crash… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 19, 2024, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=194893. 2.6 MB in all. - NTSB pilot/operator aircraft accident/incident report (form 6120.1) (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 1.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17724389&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%206120%201%20Form_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Investigative photographs (item 2, PDF, 3 pages, 752 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17724198&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array-Rel.pdf - Memorandum for record - surface weather observations (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 66 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17812352&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Weather%20MOR-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.