# NTSB LAX81FA044: Beech A36TC, N2WZ, Santa Cruz, CA, February 7, 1981

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Closed
- Date: February 7, 1981
- Place: Santa Cruz, CA · SANTA CRUZ, CA
- Location: 36.9744° N, 122.0353° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Santa Cruz, CA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.9744&lon=-122.0353&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 2 serious, 2 minor
- Status: Completed, report April 20, 1982
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 126566
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX81FA044
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX81FA044

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-3552   81/2/7    SANTA CRUZ,CA       BEECH A36TC         CR-  0  1  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 30, UNK/NR
        TIME - 1437                    N2WZ                PX-  0  1  2  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, UNK/NR IN
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            TYPE, NOT INSTRUMENT
                                                                                                   RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - SKYPARK
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          SANTA CRUZ,CA               SAN DIEGO,CA
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           STALL: MUSH                                              TAKEOFF: INITIAL CLIMB
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - PREMATURE LIFT-OFF
        FACTOR(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - LACK OF FAMILIARITY WITH AIRCRAFT
           MISCELLANEOUS - UNQUALIFIED PERSON OPERATED AIRCRAFT
        REMARKS- AFT TKOF,ANGLED FM RWY HDG,MUSHED,HIT 12FT EMBANKMENT.NOT CERTD HI PERF ACFT IAW 14CFR61.31(E).
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N2WZ](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2WZ-2014-10-17), registration cancelled 2014-10-17, S/N EA-174, built 1980 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BEECH A36TC
- Registry model: [Beech A36TC](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-a36tc) (registry code 1151603) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental TSIO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-tsio-520-series) (registry code 17040, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Airport: Skypark

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19810207003019A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19810207003019A), Feb 7, 1981: Beech A36TC, Santa Cruz, CA, Substantial damage. No checkout in type. Made premature erratic liftoff. Unable to leave ground effect. Struck fence and embankment.

## Other investigations on N2WZ (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 ERA12LA336](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA12LA336), May 12, 2012: Beech A36TC (N2WZ), Erwin, NC, substantial damage. Probable cause: The partial loss of engine power shortly after takeoff due to fatigue-fractured exhaust valve springs. Contributing to the accident was the mechanic’s decision to install exhaust valve springs with…

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.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.