What happened
On December 19, 2024, a Beech A36, registration N36WP, was destroyed during an accident near East Aurora, New York. The flight was being operated under 14 CFR Part 91 for personal use.
The aircraft departed from Capital Region International Airport (LAN) in Lansing, Michigan, on an instrument flight rules (IFR) flight plan destined for Westchester County Airport (HPN) in White Plains, New York. Approximately 1 hour and 20 minutes into the flight, while cruising at 12,500 feet, the pilot declared an emergency, reporting very low engine power and requesting to maintain the highest possible altitude.
Air traffic control (ATC) initially directed the pilot toward Buffalo Niagara International Airport (BUF) and later provided vectors to Buffalo Airfield (9G0). The pilot informed ATC that although the engine was still producing power, the aircraft could not maintain altitude. The pilot determined the aircraft could not reach either airport and decided to attempt an off-airport landing in a field, declining ATC vectors toward a nearby freeway. Radar contact was lost near the accident site.
Witnesses at the scene observed the aircraft flying at approximately 30 feet above a tree line before seeing a black plume of smoke.
The investigation
Examination of the wreckage showed the aircraft initially struck a tree trunk and stopped approximately 40 feet beyond the impact point. A post-impact fire destroyed the fuselage, cockpit, and inboard wing sections. The aft cabin and tail cone were also consumed by fire.
Structural findings included:
- The right outboard wing had crush damage near the tip, with the aileron and flap still attached.
- The right tip tank separated upon impact and was found near the base of the initial tree strike.
- The left outboard wing sustained multiple tree strikes; the aileron had separated, but the flap remained attached.
- The right horizontal stabilizer, elevator, vertical stabilizer, and rudder remained attached, but the left horizontal stabilizer and elevator were fragmented.
- The engine remained partially attached to the airframe with heavy sooting and fire damage. An initial external examination of the engine showed no evidence of catastrophic failure.
The aircraft was recovered for further examination.
1 fatal injury was reported.