20051212029399A

Accident · Destroyed

FAA accident report · Beech A23 · Mammoth Lakes, CA · December 12, 2005

Date: December 12, 2005 · 11:29 local
Place: Mammoth Lakes, CA
Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: Destroyed
Aircraft: N3590R
NTSB investigation: NTSBLAX06FA055
Reported as: Beech A23
Reported engine: Continental IO346*
People aboard: 2
Fatal injuries: 2
Pilot’s flight hours: 0 total0 in this make and model0 in the last 90 days

N3590RRegistration cancelled Jun 6, 2008 · Beech A23S/N M-782 · Built 1965 Airframe modelBeech A23 Engine modelContinental IO-346 seriesReciprocating

From the FAA’s Accident/Incident Data System (AIDS), through its Aviation Safety Information Portal, as reported. The NTSB investigates accidents separately, and its record of an accident is the fuller one. The aircraft is matched to the registry by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

What happened

The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.

(-23) N3590R, Beech A-23, VFR, redlands, CA, to Mammoth Lakes, CA, crashed under unknown circumstances in owens valley, just south of Mammoth at 121129PST. Aircraft destroyed, there was no fire. Both occupants were fatally injured. Witness reported engine sputtering prior to crash. At 1129PST a witness heard an aircraft engine sputtering. He saw the right wing of the aircraft dip down as it "tumbled down." He stated he saw it make approximately four revolutions before impacting the ground. Weather did not appear to be a factor in the accident.

As the FAA filed it

(-23) N3590R, BEECH A-23, VFR, REDLANDS, CA, TO MAMMOTH LAKES, CA, CRASHED UNDER UNKNOWN CIRCUMSTANCES IN OWENS VALLEY, JUST SOUTH OF MAMMOTH AT 121129PST. AIRCRAFT DESTROYED, THERE WAS NO FIRE. BOTH OCCUPANTS WERE FATALLY INJURED. WITNESS REPORTED ENGINE SPUTTERING PRIOR TO CRASH. AT 1129PST A WITNESS HEARD AN AIRCRAFT ENGINE SPUTTERING. HE SAW THE RIGHT WING OF THE AIRCRAFT DIP DOWN AS IT "TUMBLED DOWN." HE STATED HE SAW IT MAKE APPROXIMATELY FOUR REVOLUTIONS BEFORE IMPACTING THE GROUND. WEATHER DID NOT APPEAR TO BE A FACTOR IN THE ACCIDENT.

NTSB investigation

The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.

NTSB LAX06FA055Accident · 2 fatalField investigationFinal reportMammoth Lakes, CAa loss of engine power for undetermined reasons, and, the failure of the pilot to maintain an adequate airspeed while maneuvering following the loss of power, which resulted in a stall/spin.Dec 12, 2005 · Destroyed