Beech D45 accident near Julian, California, May 18, 2001
On May 18, 2001 at about 5:32 pm local time, a Beech D45, registered N8NV, was destroyed in an accident near Julian, 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 selection of an insufficient altitude over rising mountainous terrain and his failure to maintain adequate terrain clearance.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 18, 2001 · about 5:32 pm local time
- Place
- Julian, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech D45 · all D45s on the register
- Registration
- N8NV · no longer on the register · serial BG-358
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot attempted to fly a military flying club airplane up a valley at a low altitude. The airplane was unable to outclimb the rising terrain, and it impacted the rocky hillside at an elevation of 3,400 feet mean sea level (msl). About 8 minutes after initiating the cross-country flight, and while en route to the planned destination airport, the pilot flew over a residence less than 400 feet above the ground, as evidence by the airplane's Mode C transponder. A witness, who was at the residence and who recognized the airplane, estimated its altitude as 500 feet above ground level. Thereafter, the pilot continued flying at a low altitude above ground level. The airplane's radar track disappeared as the pilot headed toward higher elevation terrain. The lowest altitude at which targets are observed on radar 1 mile south of the accident site area is between 3,600 and 3,700 feet msl. The accident airplane's track as it approached the accident site was not detected. The terrain leading to the accident site varies from 490 to 3,400 feet msl. The pilot was familiar with the accident site terrain, having flown over the terrain in military helicopters. No evidence of preimpact mechanical malfunction was found during the wreckage examination.
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: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 220 hours in all; 19 in this make and model; 8 in the last 90 days; 8 in the last 30 days; 140 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: April 26, 2001
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 9,360 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 19, 2001; 25 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,985 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental O-470-4 (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
- Operator: North Island Navy Flying Club
The flight
- Departed from: NZY Nas Northisland CA at 5:11 pm
- Destination: L54 Agua Caliente CA
- Flight plan: VFR
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 030° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 9 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
- Altimeter: 29.94 inHg
- Observation at 5:53 pm from RNM, 13 miles away
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.