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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

NTSB Reports is an independent research and search tool for public aviation accident and incident records. It brings NTSB aviation reports, structured fields, docket files, extracted figures, photos, videos, and update history into one searchable interface.

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NTSB Report

July 22, 1992 · Beech 23 · N2359J

Fall River Mill, CA

Overview

Report Status
Probable Cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
July 22, 1992
Injury Outcomes
3 injuries (3 fatalities)
Location
Fall River Mill, CA
Aircraft
Beech 23
Tail Number
N2359J
Operator
Gary L Smith
Injuries
Fatal
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
NTSB Number
LAX92FA313

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.

NTSB 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.

Full Narrative

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.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time17:40 PDT
Nearest AirportFall River Mills (1nm S)
Runway2
Runway Length3600 ft
Runway Width80 ft
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireGrd
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftBeech 23
Tail NumberN2359J
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageDestroyed
OperatorGary L Smith
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · O-320-02B · Reciprocating · 160
Seats4

People & Injuries

Injury Summary3 injuries (3 fatalities)
Fatal3
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured0
Total3
Crew 1Age 45 · Third Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind270° @ 20 kt, gusting 25 kt
Visibility40 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point0 C / 0 C
Altimeter0
Weather SourceWIT

Appendix: Source Data