# NTSB ERA25LA137: Beech A36TC, N347M, Lititz, PA, March 9, 2025

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report
- Date: March 9, 2025, 15:30 local (19:30 UTC)
- Place: Lititz, PA
- Coordinates: 40.120452, -76.298971 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.1205&lon=-76.2990&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Takeoff: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 2 serious, 3 minor
- Status: Completed, report February 11, 2026
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class: Class 3
- NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation
- Parties: FAA/FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 199816
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA25LA137
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/199816/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=199816
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA25LA137

## Probable cause

The pilot’s failure to maintain adequate airspeed after takeoff due to his distraction by the opening of the cabin door, which resulted in an exceedance of the airplane’s critical angle of attack and an aerodynamic stall/mush condition at too low of an altitude to recover. Contributing to the accident was the airplane’s overweight condition, which increased its stall speed and adversely affected its control characteristics.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Beech A36TC, 9 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=1151603), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md)
- [Planning/preparation: weight/balance calculations](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061015): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Beech A36TC, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061015/cases.md?model=1151603), [All aircraft, 110 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061015/cases.md)
- [Performance/control parameters: airspeed](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Beech A36TC, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md?model=1151603), [All aircraft, 1,681 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md)
- [Performance/control parameters: angle of attack](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Beech A36TC, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042/cases.md?model=1151603), [All aircraft, 990 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042/cases.md)
- [Info processing/decision: identification/recognition](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041510): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Beech A36TC, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041510/cases.md?model=1151603), [All aircraft, 559 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041510/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Takeoff: Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900); cases with it: [Beech A36TC, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md?model=1151603), [All aircraft, 1,556 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md)
- [Takeoff: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Beech A36TC, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=1151603), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md)
- [Initial climb: Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241); cases with it: [Beech A36TC, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md?model=1151603), [All aircraft, 1,529 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot reported that, during takeoff, he heard a loud “pop” and was unsure what it was. He pulled the throttle back, then realized that the cabin door had opened. He thought that he subsequently pushed the throttle forward but was not sure. He noticed that the airplane’s airspeed was not increasing and immediately looked for a place to land. A passenger stated that the front door opened as soon as the airplane left the ground. She stated that the pilot contacted the air traffic control tower and requested a return to the airport, and the front-seat passenger held the door closed. The airplane turned left and started “shaking” before it impacted the ground. A security camera captured the airplane departing the runway and turning left. As the airplane lost altitude in the turn, the wings were rocking back and forth, and the tail was low, consistent with a mush condition indicative of an impending aerodynamic stall. The airplane impacted the ground and a postimpact fire consumed most of the wreckage, including the cabin door. Based on the circumstance of the accident, the pilot likely became distracted by the opening of the cabin door. Review of weight and balance information revealed that the airplane was loaded about 500 lbs above maximum gross takeoff weight, which would have increased its stall speed, reduced its climb performance, and adversely affected its control characteristics. It is likely that as a combined result of these factors, the pilot allowed the airplane’s airspeed to decay to a point where the airplane encountered an aerodynamic stall.

## Factual narrative

On March 9, 2025, about 1530 eastern daylight time, a Beech A36TC, N347M, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Lititz, Pennsylvania. The pilot and one passenger were seriously injured, and the three other passengers sustained minor injuries. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. According to the pilot, during takeoff, he heard a loud “pop” and was unsure what it was. He reduced engine power by pulling the throttle back, then realized the cabin door had opened. He thought that he subsequently pushed the throttle forward but was not sure. He noticed that the airplane’s airspeed was not increasing, and he immediately looked for a place to land. He was unable to recall anything that happened after that point. According to the passenger who was seated in the middle row seat behind the pilot, as soon as the airplane left the ground, the front door opened. The pilot contacted the air traffic control tower and requested to return, and the right-front-seat passenger held the door closed. The airplane began to turn left and started “shaking” before it crashed. A security camera located at an apartment complex across the street from the airport captured the airplane departing the runway and turning left. As the airplane lost altitude in the turn, the wings were rocking back and forth, and the tail was low. The airplane impacted the ground and continued into a parking lot, striking several cars. A postcrash fire consumed most of the airplane, including the cabin door. Review of the weight and balance information revealed that the airplane was loaded about 500 lbs above maximum gross takeoff weight.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N347M](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N347M), registered now, S/N EA-253, built 1981 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BEECH A36TC
- Registry model: [Beech A36TC](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-a36tc) (registry code 1151603) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Allison 250 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/allison-250-series) (registry code 03014, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: EA-253
- Year built: 1981
- Engines: Rolls Royce M250-B17c 450 hp turbo prop
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Departed: LNS, Lancaster, PA
- Destination: SGH, Springfield, OH
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: LNS, Lancaster, runway 26, 6,933 × 150 ft, asphalt
- Equipment: Stall warning system, ADS-B, Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Electronic multifunction display, Electronic primary flight display

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 45; injuries: serious; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 555 total, 70 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 300° at 15 knots, gusting 24
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 55 °F, dew point 19 °F
- Altimeter: 29.87 inHg
- Observed at: LNS
- METAR: KLNS 091953Z 30015G24KT 10SM CLR 13/M07 A2987 RMK AO2 PK WND 29027/2002 SLP116 T01331067 56011

## 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 20250309003959A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20250309003959A), Mar 9, 2025: Beech A36TC, Lititz, PA, Destroyed. On March 09, 2025, at 15:18 LCL the PIC departed Lancaster pa airport (klns) runway 26 on a planned flight to springfield oh (ksgh). Upon rotation and liftoff…

## Docket (7 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on February 11, 2026, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=199816. 351 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 10 pages, 3.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19390149&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Memorandum for record a�� telephone interview, pilot (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 106 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19390350&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=MEMORANDUM%20FOR%20RECORD-pilot-Rel.pdf
- Passenger statement (item 3, PDF, 2 pages, 877 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19390859&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=20250327%20N347M%20%20Trisha%20White%20ROC-Rel.pdf
- Video file (item 4, EXE, 344 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19389963&FileExtension=exe&FileName=Brethren%20Village%20-%20Aircraft%20Crash%20Video-Rel.exe
- Investigation photographs (item 5, PDF, 4 pages, 2.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19390849&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Investigation%20Photographs-Rel.pdf
- Weight and balance calculations (courtesy of FAA) (item 6, PNG, 80 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19391074&FileExtension=png&FileName=Weight%20and%20balance-FAA%20calculations-Rel.png
- Memorandum for record - wreckage examination (item 7, PDF, 2 pages, 68 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19804450&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ERA25LA137%20-%20Wreckage%20Examination%20MOR%20-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.

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