- Date
- August 24, 1997, 17:30 local (Aug 25, 1997, 00:30 UTC)
- Place
- Goleta, CA
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Enroute
- Aircraft
- N222MBeech H35
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report May 4, 1998
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19970825023409A
- Case key
- 29883
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
was a loss of engine power for undetermined reasons.
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 reported that after departure and at approximately 150 feet agl the engine lost power. He reported that he switched fuel tanks and attempted an unsuccessful restart. During a phone conversation with the pilot he stated that the engine seemed to go to idle power during the initial climb. He maneuvered to avoid a boat then ditched the aircraft in the ocean. The pilot and passenger exited the aircraft before it sank. About 12 days after the accident at the request of environmentalists the aircraft was raised by the pilot. The pilot stated that the aircraft was destroyed by the accident and the salt water and it still had fuel in the tanks. He disposed of the aircraft without notifying the Safety Board.
Factual narrative
History of flight
On August 24, 1997, about 1730 hours Pacific daylight time, a Beech H35, N222M, operated by the pilot, was destroyed after a forced water landing near Goleta Point, California. The pilot and his passenger were not injured and were rescued by boaters in the area. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the personal flight and no flight plan was filed nor required. The aircraft departed runway 15L at the Santa Barbara Airport for Van Nuys, California.
The location of the water landing was reported to be about 1/2 mile off the shore line. The pilot stated that during the departure climb, about 150 feet, the engine went to near idle power. He switched fuel tanks and attempted to restore full power without success. The pilot maneuvered to avoid a boat then ditched in the ocean.
There was no insurance coverage to pay for recovery. About 12 days after the accident at the request of environmentalists the aircraft was raised by the pilot. After a call from the Safety Board the pilot stated that the aircraft was destroyed by the accident and the salt water though it still had fuel in the tanks. He disposed of the remains without notifying the Safety Board.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N222M
- Reported as
- Beech H35
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- D-5128
- Engine
- Continental O-470, 240 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Ascher Ward
- Registered owner
- Paul Z. Besterveld
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Departed
- KSBA · CA
- Destination
- KVNY · Van Nuys, CA
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
- 63
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Multi-engine sea, Multi-engine land, Single-engine sea
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 9,800 total · 9,400 as pilot in command · 20 in the last 90 days · 8 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 330° at 5 knots
- Visibility
- 25 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 88 °F, dew point 57 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.00 inHg
- Observed at
- KSB
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.