Beech A35 accident near Escondido, California, September 18, 1989
On September 18, 1989 at about 6:10 pm local time, a Beech A35, registered N566B, was destroyed in an accident near Escondido, California. It was a public-use flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
SPATIAL DISORIENTATION OF THE PILOT AFTER HE INITIATED FLIGHT INTO IMC CONDITIONS, AND HIS EXCEEDING THE DESIGN STRESS LIMITS OF THE AIRPLANE DURING THE ATTEMPTED RECOVERY. RELATED FACTORS WERE: THE PILOT'S LACK OF TOTAL AND RECENT INSTRUMENT FLIGHT EXPERIENCE, AND THE OPERATOR'S INADEQUATE RECURRENT TRAINING PROGRAM.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 18, 1989 · about 6:10 pm local time
- Place
- Escondido, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech A35 · all A35s on the register
- Registration
- N566B · registry record · serial D-1586
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Public-use flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT WAS CLEARED FOR A CLIMB TO CRUISE AND WAS ADVISED TO MAINTAIN VFR. A POST-ACCIDENT WEATHER STUDY INDICATED THAT HE WOULD HAVE BEEN IN IMC CONDITIONS FROM ABOUT 3000 FEET THROUGH 7500 FEET MSL. AFTER INITIATING A CLIMB ON COURSE, THE PILOT LOST CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE AT 7100 FEET AND IT ENTERED A RIGHT DESCENDING SPIRAL. DURING THE UNCONTROLLED DESCENT, JUST PRIOR TO GROUND IMPACT, THE OUTER 1/2 OF THE RIGHT WING SEPARATED IN OVERSTRESS. THE NON-INSTRUMENT RATED PILOT HAD LOGGED A TOTAL OF 5 HOURS OF ACTUAL AND 14 HOURS OF HOOD TIME, THE LAST OF WHICH WAS LOGGED 2-1/2 YEARS BEFORE THE ACCIDENT. THE OPERATOR DID NOT HAVE AN INSTRUMENT OR INADVERTENT IMC TRAINING PROGRAM.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 2,390 hours in all; 2,000 in this make and model; 52 in the last 90 days; 17 in the last 30 days; 2,367 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,261 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 1, 1989; 107 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,650 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental E-225-8 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SDB San Diego CA at 4:00 pm
- Destination: L66 Corona CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 230° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 5,000 ft; scat at 2,000 ft
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 5:46 pm from CRQ, 18 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.