- Date
- July 21, 1992, 17:40 local (Jul 22, 1992, 00:40 UTC)
- Place
- Fall River Mill, CA
- Injuries
- 3 fatal
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Approach
- Aircraft
- N2359JBeech 23
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report June 30, 1993
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19920722026609A
- Case key
- 27444
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilots decision to turn down wind at a critical phase of the go around with inadequate airspeed resulting in a stall mush uncontrolled descent. Contributing to the accident was the unfavorable wind conditions and a stabilator interference caused by a lubricant container in the tail cone.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The pilot was attempting to land in a 20 knot right crosswind with gusts to about 25 knots. According to the p.o.h. the airplanes demonstrated crosswind component is 13 knots. The pilot initiated a go around and during the initial climb the pilot turned a close left crosswind giving the airplane a 20 knot plus direct tailwind. Witnesses said the aircraft never got above 100 feet, and, after narrowly missing a water tank, it suddenly banked 90 degrees to the left and fell to the ground. Witnesses stated that the airplane was very low with positive engine power. According to local area pilots, under the wind conditions on the day of the accident the area just southwest of the airport is capable of severe turbulence, wind shears and down drafts associated with a southwesterly air flow over and between mount haney and saddle mountain. Weight and balance computations were performed using three different fuel loads and other estimated weights. All three calculations put the center of gravity at the forward c.g. limits. During the on scene accident investigation a lubricant container was found in the tail cone area. A close examination of the area revealed evidence of can contact and rubbing on the stabilator servo tab rod. The rod was found bent.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N2359J
- Reported as
- Beech 23
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- M317
- Engine
- Lycoming O-320-02B, 160 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Fire
- On-Ground
- Flight
- Business · Part 91
- Operator
- Gary L. Smith
- Registered owner
- John P. Howard
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · January 16, 1992
- Departed
- RDD · Redding, CA
- Airport
- O89 · Fall River Mills, runway 2, 3,600 × 80 ft, asphalt
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 45
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Left
- Toxicology
- Performed
- Flight hours
- 1,405 total · 20 in this make and model
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 270° at 20 knots, gusting 25
- Visibility
- 40 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.