# NTSB ERA26LA140: Beech A36, N66519, Gulf Shores, AL, March 8, 2026 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Fatal · Class 3 · Limited · Preliminary report - Date: March 7, 2026, 19:00 local (Mar 8, 2026, 01:00 UTC) - Place: Gulf Shores, AL - Coordinates: 30.289219, -87.791452 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.2892&lon=-87.7915&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute-descent: Unknown or undetermined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000) - Highest injury: Fatal - Injuries: 2 fatal - Status: Investigation ongoing - Investigation class: Class 3 - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/ FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 202614 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA26LA140 - NTSB preliminary report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/202614/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA26LA140 ## Preliminary report On March 7, 2026, about 1900 central standard time, a Beechcraft A36, N66519 was destroyed when it was involved in an accident near Gulf Shores, Alabama. The pilot and one passenger were fatally injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The flight departed Flagler Executive Airport (FIN), Palm Coast, Florida, destined for Gulf Shores International Airport (JKA), Gulf Shores, Alabama. Preliminary ADS-B data showed the airplane departed FIN and made two left turns to join an outbound heading of 278° with some minor course adjustments primarily along a direct flight path. The airplane climbed to and leveled off at 6,000 ft mean sea level (msl) until passing Pensacola, Florida. At Pensacola, the aircraft began a gradual descent to 1,500 ft. Preliminary air traffic control (ATC) communications revealed that during the approach phase of the flight, Pensacola approach control instructed the pilot to turn right to a heading of 360°. The pilot acknowledged and reported a weak radio signal. Shortly afterward, ATC advised the pilot he was 4 miles from the final approach fix and instructed him to turn right to a heading of 060° and to maintain 1,600 ft until established on the final approach course. The pilot was then cleared for the RNAV runway 9 approach, and he correctly acknowledged all the instructions. The controller asked if his radio reception had improved and the pilot reported, “slightly better”. The pilot began his right turn but stopped the turn on a heading of about 050° and flew through the final approach course. The approach controller advised him that he had passed through the final approach course and instructed him to turn to a heading of 110° to rejoin the final approach course. The pilot did not acknowledge the first transmission but correctly acknowledged the second instruction. The airplane entered a descending right turn and leveled off briefly at an altitude of 800 ft on a heading of about 150°. It then entered a gradual tightening left turn and climb to 1,300 ft, before transitioning into a steep descending turn. The airplane impacted the water on a heading of between 300° and 324° at a ground speed of about 165 knots. Underwater sonar scans showed the wreckage was scattered over an area 700 ft long by 300 ft wide in water depths of 8-9 ft. Portions of the wreckage have been recovered and retained for further examination. ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute-descent: Unknown or undetermined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000) (defining event); cases with it: [Beech A36, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000/sequence.md?model=1151604), [All aircraft, 1,703 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000/sequence.md) - [Approach-IFR initial approach: Course deviation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/281); cases with it: [Beech A36, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/281/sequence.md?model=1151604), [All aircraft, 52 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/281/sequence.md) - [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Loss of visual reference](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/402); cases with it: [Beech A36, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/402/sequence.md?model=1151604), [All aircraft, 242 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/402/sequence.md) - [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240); cases with it: [Beech A36, 31 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=1151604), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) ## Aircraft - Registration: [N66519](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N66519), registered now, S/N E-2054, built 1982 (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: E-2054 - Year built: 1982 - Damage: Destroyed - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: FIN, Palm Coast, FL - Destination: JKA, Gulf Shores, AL - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: JKA, Gulf Shores Intl/Jack Edwards Fld - Equipment: ADS-B, Auto-pilot, Electronic primary flight display, Stall warning system ## Weather - Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Night - Wind: 110° at 8 knots - Visibility: 0.5 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 200 ft overcast - Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 70 °F - Altimeter: 30.07 inHg - Observed at: KJKA, 6 nm away - METAR: METAR KJKA 080155Z 11008KT 2 1/2SM 2V4 BR OVC002 21/21 A3007 ## 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 20260307010839A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20260307010839A), Mar 7, 2026: Beech A36, Gulf Shores, AL, Destroyed, 2 fatal. Approximately 8 miles east of kjka, aircraft impacted the water and broke apart after being vectored onto the final approach course for the RNAV approach to… 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.