Beechcraft A-36 N4323W

Summary

On 31 May 1994 at about 15:45 local time, a Beechcraft A-36 registered N4323W was involved in an accident near Fullerton, California, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 died. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

31 May 1994 at 15:45

Classification

Accident

Location

Fullerton, California, United States

Nearest airport

Fullerton Municipal (FUL)

Coordinates

Not recorded

Aircraft

Beechcraft A-36

Registration

N4323W

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Unknown → Laredo

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

LAX94FA232

2 people died.

the pilot's lack of familiarity with the performance change of the airplane, and the lack of proper training/transition in the modified airplane. Contributing to the accident was inadequate substantiation process and insufficient review by the FAA; the improper weight and balance of the airplane; and the pilot's lack of total experience in this type of aircraft.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

ACCORDING TO WITNESSES, THE AIRPLANE USED MOST OF THE 3,120 FOOT LONG RUNWAY WITH SLOW ACCELERATION, AND FAILED TO ESTABLISH A POSITIVE RATE OF CLIMB. IT THEN COLLIDED WITH A STREET LIGHT POLE LESS THAN A MILE FROM THE RUNWAY. THE AIRPLANE HAD BEEN MODIFIED ABOUT 9.7 FLIGHT HOURS PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT FLIGHT WITH AN FAA APPROVED TURBONORMALIZED/TURBO SYSTEM AND SPEED BRAKES. ACCORDING TO THE COMPANY CHECK PILOT, THE OWNER/PILOT HAD RECEIVED 1.5 HOURS OF GROUND INSTRUCTION AND 1.3 HOURS OF FLIGHT CHECKOUT ON THE MODIFICATION/CHANGES TO THE AIRPLANE. THE TURBO MODIFICATION WEIGHED 32 POUNDS MORE THAN REFLECTED IN THE STC PAPERWORK, AND THE CG WAS 3.61 INCHES FORWARD OF THE FORWARD LIMIT AS THE AIRCRAFT WAS LOADED. THE TIP TANK FUEL CG WAS IN ERROR BY 10.9 INCHES IN THE STC PAPERWORK. THE AIRPLANE WAS OVER GROSS WEIGHT BY 26 POUNDS. THE FUEL BOOST PUMP WAS FOUND IN THE ON POSITION, AND COULD HAVE FLOODED THE ENGINE. THE SPARK PLUGS INDICATE AN OVER-RICH MIXTURE, WHICH COULD DEGRADE ENGINE PERFORMANCE. FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH THE INSTALLATION CAN CAUSE A DEGRADED TAKEOFF PERFORMANCE AT SEA LEVEL.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.