Beechcraft A36 N3058Y

Summary

On 1 December 2008 at about 04:26 local time, a Beechcraft A36 registered N3058Y, operated by Robert Stevens, was involved in an accident near Coalinga, California, United States. 3 people were on board and one died, 2 had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

1 December 2008 at 04:26

Classification

Accident

Location

Coalinga, California, United States

Nearest airport

New Coalinga Municipal Airport (C80)

Coordinates

36.1464, -120.2936

Aircraft

Beechcraft A36

Registration

N3058Y

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Robert Stevens

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Long Beach → Coalinga

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

IMC

Light

Night

NTSB number

WPR09LA050

1 person died.

The loss of engine power while in climb to cruise flight for undetermined reasons.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot reported that after an uneventful night cross-country flight, he established visual contact with the area of his intended destination and started a descent towards the airport. The pilot stated that due to a layer of fog over the airport, he diverted to an alternate airport equipped with an instrument approach and initiated a climbing left turn. Shortly after, the engine lost power and the pilot altered his course to the nearest airport, and conducted his emergency checklist. Despite numerous attempts, the engine would not restart. The pilot further stated that upon realizing he would not be able to make the airport, he set up for an off-field landing with the flaps and landing gear retracted. During the emergency descent, visibility was limited due to a layer of fog. Subsequently, the airplane landed hard in an open field and came to rest upright. First responders reported that thick fog in the area at the time of the accident hampered the search and rescue operation while locating the downed airplane. The engine was removed from the airframe and installed on a test stand. The engine was started and ran smoothly at an idle speed before the engine was shut down using the mixture control cutoff. No preexisting mechanical anomalies were noted with examination of the recovered airframe and engine that would have precluded normal operation.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.