Beechcraft A36 N66519

Summary

On 8 March 2026 at about 01:00 local time, a Beechcraft A36 registered N66519 was involved in an accident near Gulf Shores, Alabama, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 died. The aircraft was destroyed. No probable cause has been published yet; this accident is still under investigation.

Date

8 March 2026 at 01:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Gulf Shores, Alabama, United States

Nearest airport

Gulf Shores Intl/Jack Edwards (JKA)

Coordinates

30.2892, -87.7915

Aircraft

Beechcraft A36

Registration

N66519

Category

Airplane

Year built

1982

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Palm Coast → Gulf Shores

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

IMC

Light

Night

NTSB number

ERA26LA140

2 people died.

The NTSB has not published a probable cause for this record. The investigation is still open; a final report usually follows one to two years after the accident.

Nothing about the cause is stated here that is not in the source record.

Read the full NTSB narrative

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.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.