Beech A36 accident near Topock, AZ
On December 10, 2023, a Beech A36 (airplane) was involved in an accident near Topock, AZ. 1 person died. Damage to the aircraft: substantial.
- Date
- December 10, 2023
- Place
- Topock, AZ
- Aircraft
- Beech A36 · Airplane
- Injuries
- 1 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Substantial
- Position
- 34.805°N, 114.416°W
- NTSB ID
- 20231211193502
Official records · WPR24FA054
- Public docket: reports, statements and exhibits from the investigation
Air traffic control records
- FAA ATC Accident Package Excerpt: Document (PDF), on ntsb.gov
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHTOn December 10, 2023, about 1555 mountain standard time, a Beechcraft A36 airplane, N4171S, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Topock, Arizona. The pilot was fatally injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. According to ADS-B data, the airplane departed Sun Valley Airport (A20), Bullhead City, Arizona, from runway 36 about 1533, and made a climbing right turn to the southeast. About 1535, the airplane turned left on an easterly heading and continued to climb. A summary of radio communication provided by the FAA showed that the pilot had contacted the Los Angeles Air Route Traffic Control Center (ARTCC) controller at 1141 and requested flight following services from A20 to Prescott Regional Airport—Ernest A. Love Field (PRC), Prescott, Arizona. ADS-B data showed that at 1546:49, the airplane had ascended to 11,325 ft mean sea level (msl) and began a right 180° turn. About 1547, the pilot notified the controller that the engine was losing oil pressure and that he was returning to A20. At 1547:59, the airplane completed a 180° turn to a heading of 270° and descended to 9,650 ft msl. The data showed that the airplane descended to 6,250 ft msl over the next 2 minutes and remained on a westerly heading. At 1550, the pilot informed the controller that the engine power was set to the idle position, and he was uncertain that the airplane would make it to A20. At 1552 the controller asked the pilot if he could see any roads or freeways to make an off-airport landing, to which
Probable cause
The failure of the No. 4 connecting rod due to oil starvation, which resulted in a loss of engine power, inflight fire, and a subsequent off-airport emergency landing on rough desert terrain. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s decision to attempt a return to the airport when closer sites were available for a forced landing.
More accidents in AZ
- De Havilland DHC-6-300, Sep 27, 1989
- Cessna 402C, Jun 19, 1992
- Piper PA-31-350, Aug 17, 1983
- Piper PA-31-350, Feb 13, 1995
- Cessna 421C, Sep 2, 1995
Browse: Arizona · Beech aircraft
Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.
