Raytheon Aircraft Company A36 accident near Monterey, California, October 6, 2015
On October 6, 2015 at about 3:00 am local time, a 2002 Raytheon Aircraft Company A36, registered N53WW, was substantially damaged in an accident during taxi near Monterey, California (Monterey Rgnl airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to see and avoid runway signage during taxi after landing, resulting in a collision and substantial damage to the left wing of the airplane.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 6, 2015 · about 3:00 am local time
- Place
- Monterey, California · Monterey Rgnl · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Raytheon Aircraft Company A36 UNDESIGNAT, built 2002
- Registration
- N53WW · registry record · serial E-3480
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that after landing, while taxiing to his hangar at night, he struck a distance remaining sign. He reported that all of the runway and taxiway lights were inoperative at the time he impacted the sign. The pilot also reported that the airplane landing and taxi lights were inoperative. When asked, the pilot could not recall if the airplane landing and taxi lights were operative during the preflight which he affirms was conducted. After the impact, the pilot continued to his hangar, secured the airplane, and contacted the airport manager the following morning. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing. The runway and taxiway lights were inoperative at the time of the accident, but the appropriate NOTAM had been issued, and the information was available to the pilot.
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
What happened, in order
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during taxi (from runway)
- Ground collision during taxi defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Psychological › Attention/monitoring › Monitoring environment › Pilot
- Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Lighting system › Exterior lighting › Inoperative
- Environmental issues › Operating environment › Airport facilities/design › Runway lighting › Effect on operation
- Environmental issues › Operating environment › Airport facilities/design › Taxiway lighting › Effect on operation
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 508 hours in all; 371 in this make and model; 10.6 in the last 90 days; 1.5 in the last 30 days; 371 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: June 27, 2015
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,008 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 27, 2014
- Maximum gross weight: 3,651 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-550-B39B (piston); 1,008 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: PAO Palo Alto CA at 2:35 am
- Destination: MRY Monterey CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 28L, 7,440 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night
- Wind: from 130° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
- Altimeter: 29.95 inHg
- Observation at 2:54 am from MRY
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
2 documents, released by the NTSB on December 24, 2015. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 7 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Photo (Courtesy of FAA) | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.