Beechcraft 23 N2359J

Summary

On 22 July 1992 at about 00:40 local time, a Beechcraft 23 registered N2359J, operated by Gary L. Smith, was involved in an accident near Fall River Mill, California, United States. 3 people were on board and 3 died. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

22 July 1992 at 00:40

Classification

Accident

Location

Fall River Mill, California, United States

Nearest airport

Fall River Mills (O89)

Coordinates

41.0094, -121.4695

Aircraft

Beechcraft 23

Registration

N2359J

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Gary L. Smith

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Business

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Redding → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

LAX92FA313

3 people died.

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.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB 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.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.