Beech C35 accident near Fullerton, California, March 21, 2001
On March 21, 2001 at about 1:37 am local time, a Beech C35, registered N7MK, was substantially damaged in an accident near Fullerton, California (Fullerton Muni airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The premature retraction of the landing gear and the failure of the CFI to properly supervise the flight.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 21, 2001 · about 1:37 am local time
- Place
- Fullerton, California · Fullerton Muni · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech C35 · all C35s on the register
- Registration
- N7MK · no longer on the register · serial D3033
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
On the landing rollout the right main landing gear began to collapse. The right wing struck a runway exit sign as the flight instructor aborted the landing then made an uneventful landing at home base. The purpose of the flight was to provide transition training for insurance coverage for the owner. After touchdown the pilot observed a 5-knot crosswind from the left and applied left aileron to correct for it. The airplane veered to the right contacting the runway exit sign. There was damage to the inside of the right main tire, the inner landing gear door, the right main gear actuating arm, and the right wheel well aft bulkhead that was consistent with premature retraction of the landing gear. The landing gear was electrically tested with no mechanical anomalies noted.
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: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 3,265 hours in all; 1,164 in this make and model; 74 in the last 90 days; 20 in the last 30 days; 3,115 as pilot in command; 2,155 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
Dual student
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 104 hours in all; 13 in this make and model; 17 in the last 90 days; 8 in the last 30 days; 25 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: December 19, 2000
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 8,683 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 6, 2001; 9 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,700 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental E-225 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: EMT El Monte CA at 1:15 am
- Destination: WHP Whiteman CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 24, 3,121 ft by 75 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 190° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 8 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
- Altimeter: 29.94 inHg
- Observation at 1:40 am from FUL
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.