Rawlins Muni Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Rawlins, Wyoming 82301
Thursday, May 16, 1991 5:12 MDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE PILOT OF THE BEECH A36 WAS FLYING ON TOP OF AN OVERCAST WHEN HE NOTED THAT THE READINGS ON HIS ENGINE GAUGES WERE DROPPING. HE DETERMINED THAT THE ALTERNATOR HAD FAILED AND WAS UNSUCCESSFUL IN HIS ATTEMPT TO USE THE STANDBY GENERATOR. HE THEN DEAD-RECKONED TO A LET-DOWN THROUGH THE CLOUDS AT RAWLINS, WY, AND LANDED SHORT OF THE RUNWAY WHEN HE BELIEVED THAT THE ENGINE WAS NOT PRODUCING ADEQUATE POWER.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THE PILOT'S LACK OF FAMILIARITY WITH THE AIRCRAFT, HIS LACK OF UNDERSTANDING OF THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, AND A PREMATURE PRECAUTIONARY LANDING. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WERE AN ALTERNATOR FAILURE AND THE RESULTANT FALSE READINGS OF THE POWERPLANT INSTRUMENTS.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 5/16/1991
Event Day of the Week Thursday
Time of Event 512
Event Time Zone Mountain Daylight Time
Event City RAWLINS
Event State WYOMING
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 82301
Event Date Year 1991
Event Date Month 5
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport RAWLINS MUNI
Event Location Nearest Airport ID RWL
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation 6813
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Witness
Time of the weather observation 0
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID
Elevation of weather observation facility 0
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 1800
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 700
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Broken
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 5
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 4
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 3
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 340
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 15
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) 0
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 2
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1354
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time 0
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 43924
Date of most recent change to record Dec 12 2000 10:03AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N6724T
NTSB Number SEA91LA106
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed IFR
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name BEECH
Aircraft Model A36
Aircraft Series Identifier A36
Aircraft Serial Number E-2163
Certified Max Gross Weight 3660
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 6
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Unknown
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection 0
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name
Aircraft Owner Street Address
Aircraft Owner City
Aircraft Owner State
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name JOHN L. RONACHER
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 6 BALSAM CT
Operator City NEW YORK CITY
Operator State NY
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 10956
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Positioning
Second Pilot on Board Yes
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code CPR
Departure City CASPER
Departure State WY
Departure Country
Departure Time 415
Departure Time Zone MDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code OGD
Destination City OGDEN
Destination State UT
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Landing
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:30AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 22
Runway Length 7000
Runway Width 100
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --