# Accident 20230501009289A: Beech A36, Big Bear, CA, May 1, 2023

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: May 1, 2023, 14:02 local time
- Place: Big Bear, CA
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Landing: Approach
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 34.2638° N, 116.8560° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.2638&lon=-116.8560&mi=10
- Aircraft: N2038Y, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2038Y-2023-09-13) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Beech A36 (registry code 1151604, https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-a36) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Continental IO-520 series (registry code 17032, https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-520-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BEECH A36
- Reported engine: CONT MOTOR IO 520 SERIES
- People aboard: 3
- Fatal injuries: 3
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 2,000 total
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB WPR23FA173](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR23FA173) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20230501009289A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

PRELIMINARY FINDINGS: AT APPROXIMATELY 2102 HRS ON 05/01/2023, ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ A BEECH A-36 BONANZA CRASHED ABOUT 2,337 FEET NORTHEAST OF THE RUNWAY 26 THRESHOLD AT BIG BEAR CITY AIRPORT (L35), BIGBEAR, CA. THE AIRCRAFT HAD DEPARTED FROM CORONA (KAJO) AFTER THE PILOT AND ONE PASSENGER EMBARKED ONE MORE PERSON. THE FLIGHT WAS IN VFR CONDITIONS FOR THE DURATION AND NO FLIGHT PLAN WAS ON FILE. AFTER CLIMBING TO CLEAR THE SAN BERNARDINO MOUNTAINS, THE FLIGHT MADE A DESCENT TO THE MOUNTAIN AIRPORT TRAFFIC PATTERN AND, BASED ON THE LOCATION OF THE CRASH, TURNED FINAL APPROACH WITHIN ABOUT A HALF-MILE OF THE RUNWAY THRESHOLD. THE AIRCRAFT WRECKAGE WAS LOCATED ABOUT 2000 FEET NORTH OF THE RUNWAY 26 EXTENDED CENTERLINE, AND WITHIN ONE-QUARTER MILE FROM THE THRESHOLD. THE DIRECTION OF THE GROUND SCAR WAS ABOUT 312 DEGREES MAGNETIC. THE WINGTIPS HAD BEEN TORN OFF OR DESTROYED. THE PILOT SEAT WAS PARTLY OUTSIDE THE LEFT SIDE WINDOW. THE RIGHT SEAT PASSENGER WAS IN HIS SEAT BUT THE DOOR HAD BEEN SLUNG-OPEN AND ONE LEG WAS PROTRUDING FROM THE ENTRY DOOR. THE AIRCRAFT CAME TO REST ONLY 200 FEET FROM INITIAL IMPACT IN AN UPRIGHT POSITION ON A HEADING OF 300 DEGREES. THE RIGHT-HAND WING WAS COMPLETELY DESTROYED DUE TO "END-ON" FORCES CRUSHING AND CRUMPLING IT. THE THREE OCCUPANTS WERE FATALLY INJURED. THE CIRCUMSTANTIAL EVIDENCE SUGGESTS A HIGH ANGLE OF BANK, LOW-ALTITUDE, HIGH DRAG TURN TO FINAL APPROACH IN THE LANDING CONFIGURATION. IT IS BELIEVED THAT THE AIRCRAFT STALLED AND BEGAN A SNAP-ROLL TO THE RIGHT AS IT DESCENDED TO THE GROUND, IMPACTING THE RH WING FIRST, GENERATING CENTRIFUGAL FORCES ABOUT THE VERTICAL AXIS.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB WPR23FA173](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR23FA173), May 1, 2023: Beech A36 (N2038Y), Big Bear, CA, substantial damage, 3 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot’s exceedance of the airplane’s critical angle of attack and failure to maintain adequate airspeed on short final while operating in adverse wind conditions, which resulted in an aerodynamic…

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft 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. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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