# NTSB LAX83LA233: Beech 35P, N8512M, San Rafael, CA, May 16, 1983

- Type: NTSB incident investigation
- Classification: Incident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: May 15, 1983, 19:30 local (May 16, 1983, 02:30 UTC)
- Place: San Rafael, CA
- Location: 38.0169° N, 122.5208° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs at SAN RAFAEL (CA35), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.0169&lon=-122.5208&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 23714
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX83LA233
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/23714/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX83LA233

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- On ground/water collision with object, landing - flare/touchdown
  - object - other person (contributing factor)
  - judgment - poor, ground personnel (cause)

## Analysis

THE PLT REPORTED THAT DURING HIS FINAL APCH TO LAND, HE OBSERVED AN INDIVIDUAL ON A SMALL LAWN-TYPE TRACTOR, WELL CLEAR ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE RWY. JUST AFTER TOUCHDOWN, AS HE WAS LOWERING THE NOSE, HE OBSERVED THE TRACTOR PASS UNDER THE LEFT WING OF THE ACFT. HE REPORTED THAT HE FELT NO IMPACT, BUT AFTER TURNING OFF THE RWY, HE NOTED THE LEADING EDGE OF THE WING WAS DENTED. HE NOTIFIED THE ARPT MANAGER, WHO INSPECTED THE RWY. THE TRACTOR OPERATOR WAS FOUND LYING ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE RWY WITH SERIOUS HEAD INJURIES & WAS TRANSPORTED TO THE HOSPITAL.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N8512M](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N8512M), registered now, S/N D-7180, built 1963 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BEECH 35P
- Registry model: [Beech P35](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-p35) (registry code 1151530) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental I0-470 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-i0-470-series) (registry code 17027, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: D-7180
- Airframe hours: 3022
- Engines: CONTINENTAL IO-470N 260 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Minor damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: James M. Mc Elroy
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, October 1, 1982, 61 hours before
- Departed: TLR, TULARE, CA
- Airport: CA35, Smith Ranch, runway 22, 2,140 × 50 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 56; commercial, flight engineer; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 909 total, 12 in this make and model, 697 as pilot in command, 9 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: variable at 15 knots, gusting 20
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 70 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg

## 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 19830515038029A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19830515038029A), May 15, 1983: Beech P35BEECH, San Rafael, CA, Minor damage. Struck a mowing machine operator on landing. Pilot unaware of impact of operator and the left wing.

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.