Beech F33A accident near Columbia, California, May 26, 2000
On May 26, 2000 at about 11:30 pm local time, a Beech F33A, registered N2RM, was destroyed in an accident near Columbia, California. It was a personal 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
The pilot's failure to abort the downwind takeoff and his failure to attain flying speed.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 26, 2000 · about 11:30 pm local time
- Place
- Columbia, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech F33A · all F33As on the register
- Registration
- N2RM · registry record · serial CE-567
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
Witnesses reported seeing the airplane depart on runway 17. It became airborne about midfield, and flew nose high 10/20 feet above the 4,667-foot-long runway. Engine power was reduced, then reapplied, and the airplane crossed the runway end about 20 feet agl with the landing gear extended. The airplane collided with trees about 1,300 feet beyond the runway end. A postaccident fire erupted upon impact. One pilot witness reported the wind to be 290 degrees at 14 knots and a reported density altitude of 3,900 feet. The engine was shipped to the manufacturer for examination. According to the report, "this engine exhibits normal operational signatures throughout, except for the extensive fire and impact damages. All internal components appeared well lubricated. This engine did not exhibit any condition that would have caused an operational problem."
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,308 hours in all; 42 in this make and model; 1,185 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,763 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 14, 1999
- Maximum gross weight: 3,400 lb
- Seats: 5
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-520-BB (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: O22 CA at 11:25 pm
- Destination: OAK Oakland CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 17, 4,667 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 270° at 8 knots, gusting 14
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 174°F (79°C), dew point 131°F (55°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 11:20 pm from 022
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
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.