Beech A36 incident near Bakersfield, California, June 27, 2001
On June 27, 2001 at about 5:10 pm local time, a Beech A36, registered N808NH, was involved in an incident near Bakersfield, California (Meadows Field). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
During landing approach, mechanical binding of the elevator control cable occurred due to a contract mechanic's improper maintenance.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 27, 2001 · about 5:10 pm local time
- Place
- Bakersfield, California · Meadows Field · map
- Type
- Incident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech A36 · all A36s on the register
- Registration
- N808NH · registry record · serial E-2817
- Damage
- Not recorded
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
During the landing approach on an instructional flight, the certified flight instructor (CFI) initiated a go-around and experienced restricted elevator control movement. The elevator control became partially jammed in a nose low and then a nose high position. Roll and yaw control was not affected. Using considerable force, the CFI maintained airplane control and landed without additional incident. Thereafter, the airplane was inspected. Evidence of mechanical binding to the elevator pitch control cables was noted. Specifically, a screwdriver was found wedged between the nose gear actuator retract rod and the elevator control cables beneath the forward spar cover, between and under the pilots' seats. When the nose gear retracted, the nose gear actuator retract rod moved the screwdriver against the elevator control cable resulting in binding. Upon removal of the screwdriver, the elevator operation was normal. Two days prior to the incident, a contract mechanic had performed maintenance on the airplane. The maintenance required taking off the forward spar cover to allow removal and installation of a flap motor gearbox assembly and flap flex drives. Since this maintenance, the airplane had been operated 5.8 flight hours.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,164 hours in all; 51 in this make and model; 92 in the last 90 days; 39 in the last 30 days; 1,045 as pilot in command; 497 on instruments
- Last flight review: March 16, 2001
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
Dual student
- Certificate: student
- Flight time: 15 hours in all; 15 in this make and model; 15 in the last 90 days; 14 in the last 30 days; 0 as pilot in command; 0 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 3
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,999 hours
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme, June 25, 2001; 6 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,600 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-550B-6F (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: International Flight Training Academy, Inc.
The flight
- Departed from: BFL Bakersfield CA at 4:21 pm
- Destination: BFL Bakersfield CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 30L, 3,700 ft by 75 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 290° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 77°F (25°C), dew point 50°F (10°C)
- Altimeter: 30.04 inHg
- Observation at 4:56 pm from BFL
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 | |||
| Passengers | 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.