Accident Overview
On March 7, 2026, at about 1900 central standard time, a Beechcraft A36, registration N66519, was destroyed when it impacted water near Gulf Shores, Alabama. The pilot and one passenger sustained fatal injuries. The flight was conducted as a personal flight under Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91.
Flight History
The airplane departed Flagler Executive Airport (FIN) in Palm Coast, Florida, with a planned destination of Gulf Shores International Airport (JKA) in Gulf Shores, Alabama. Preliminary ADS-B data indicated that after departure, the airplane made two left turns to join an outbound heading of 278°, with minor course adjustments along a generally direct flight path. It climbed to and leveled off at 6,000 ft mean sea level (msl) until passing Pensacola, Florida, where it began a gradual descent to 1,500 ft.
Communications and Maneuvers
Preliminary air traffic control (ATC) communications revealed that during the approach phase, Pensacola approach control instructed the pilot to turn right to a heading of 360°. The pilot acknowledged and reported a weak radio signal. Later, ATC advised the pilot he was 4 miles from the final approach fix and instructed him to turn right to 060° and maintain 1,600 ft until established on the final approach course. The pilot was cleared for the RNAV runway 9 approach and correctly acknowledged all instructions. When asked if radio reception had improved, the pilot responded “slightly better.”
The pilot began a right turn but stopped at about 050°, flying through the final approach course. The controller noted this and instructed a turn to 110° to rejoin. The pilot did not acknowledge the first transmission but correctly acknowledged the second. The airplane then entered a descending right turn, leveling briefly at 800 ft on a heading of about 150°. Subsequently, it entered a gradual tightening left turn and climbed to 1,300 ft before transitioning into a steep descending turn. The airplane impacted the water on a heading between 300° and 324° at a ground speed of about 165 knots.
Wreckage and Recovery
Underwater sonar scans showed the wreckage scattered over an area 700 ft long by 300 ft wide in water depths of 8 to 9 ft. Portions of the wreckage have been recovered and retained for further examination.