# NTSB MIA84FA206: Beech A36, N6265X, Zolfo Springs, FL, July 22, 1984

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: July 22, 1984, 17:37 local (21:37 UTC)
- Place: Zolfo Springs, FL
- Coordinates: 27.49069, -81.789642 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=27.4907&lon=-81.7896&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 5 fatal
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 31007
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA84FA206
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/31007/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA84FA206

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- In flight encounter with weather, cruise - normal
  - procedures/directives - not followed, pilot in command
  - qualification, pilot in command
  - flight into known adverse weather - initiated, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - overconfidence in personal ability, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - clouds (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - thunderstorm (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - rain (contributing factor)
  - vfr flight into imc - continued, pilot in command (cause)
- Loss of control - in flight, cruise
  - aircraft handling - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - spatial disorientation, pilot in command (cause)
  - lack of total instrument time, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- Airframe/component/system failure/malfunction, descent - uncontrolled
  - design stress limits of aircraft - exceeded, pilot in command (cause)
  - wing - overload
  - stabilizer - overload
  - wing - separation
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

DURING THE PRE-FLT WX BRIEFING, THE NON-INSTRUMENT RATED PLT WAS ADVISED OF NUMEROUS THUNDERSTORMS ALONG HIS PROPOSED ROUTE OF FLT & THAT VFR FLT WAS NOT RECOMMENDED. WHILE EN ROUTE, HE CONTACTED MIAMI CENTER, REQUESTED FLT FOLLOWING & WAS INSTRUCTED TO MAINTAIN VFR. IN THE VICINITY OF NUMEROUS LVL 3 & 4 PRECIPITATION AREAS, THE PLT INQUIRED ABOUT THE WXAHEAD & WAS PROVIDED VECTORS TO THE CLEAREST AREA. HOWEVER, RADIO & RADAR CONTACT WERE LOST & THE ACFT CRASHED. A WITNESS NEAR THE CRASH SITE SAW THE ACFT FALLING WITHOUT WINGS JUST PRIOR TO IMPACT. HE NOTED THAT THERE WAS A DARK CLOUD BEHIND THE ACFT, LIGHT RAIN WAS FALLING & THE SURFACE WIND WAS FROM THE EAST & WAS GUSTING. THE WINGS, CABIN DOOR & ELEVATOR COUNTERWEIGHTS WERE FOUND ABOUT 1/2 MI WEST OF THE FUSELAGE. THE WINGS HAD FAILED UPWARD, THE VERTICAL STABILIZER HAD SEPARATED AT THE TOP OF THE TAILCONE & THE ENTIRE TAILCONE HAD BROKEN FROM THE FUSELAGE. NO PREEXISTING CRACKS OR FATIGUE WAS FOUND. THE PLT'S LAST MEDICAL CERTIFICATE WAS DATED 4/6/81.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N6265X (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: BEECH A36
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: E-1999
- Airframe hours: 667
- Engines: CONTINENTAL IO-520 285 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Hangar One, Inc.
- Registered owner: Kenneth E. Pyle
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility
- Last inspection: Annual, April 13, 1984, 84 hours before
- Departed: EYW, KEY WEST, FL
- Destination: ORL, ORLANDO, FL
- Flight plan: VFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 29; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: expired; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 189 total, 61 in this make and model, 14 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Day
- Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 70 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: LAL, 38 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 19840722033689A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19840722033689A), Jul 22, 1984: Beech A36, Zolfo Springs, FL, Destroyed, 4 fatal. Aircraft was observed by witness to emerge from clouds without wings and broken tail section. Thunderstorm in area.

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.