Beech B36TC accident near Mammoth Lakes, California, January 21, 2002
On January 21, 2002 at about 7:00 pm local time, a Beech B36TC, registered N6427N, was substantially damaged in an accident near Mammoth Lakes, California (Mammoth Yosemite airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 5 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The onset of variable, gusty, crosswind conditions at the time of departure and the pilot's inadequate and improper compensation for the crosswind conditions.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 21, 2002 · about 7:00 pm local time
- Place
- Mammoth Lakes, California · Mammoth Yosemite · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 5 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech B36TC · all B36TCs on the register
- Registration
- N6427N · no longer on the register · serial EA-297
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
During takeoff in a quartering left crosswind, the left wingtip dropped and contacted the runway surface. The pilot reported that two other aircraft, one of similar weight and size, had departed ahead of him as he performed his run-up. The windsock indicated the wind was variable from down the runway to a 45-degree left crosswind at 15 to 20 knots. During his takeoff roll, as he rotated the airplane for liftoff, the airplane encountered a "strong side gust," which caused the airplane to yaw into the wind, one wing to lift, and the other to drop and contact the runway. Following the wingtip contact with the runway, the pilot aborted the takeoff and brought the airplane to a stop on the remaining runway. The surface wind, recorded by the Automated Weather Observing System (AWOS) 48 minutes after the accident, was a 70-degree left crosswind at 18 knots with gusts to 31 knots.
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, flight instructor
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,000 hours in all; 75 in this make and model; 60 in the last 90 days; 20 in the last 30 days; 1,900 as pilot in command; 200 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 3,850 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental TSIO-520-UB (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: MMH Mammoth Lakes CA at 7:00 pm
- Destination: VNY Van Nuys CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 27, 7,000 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 200° at 18 knots, gusting 31
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 43°F (6°C), dew point 18°F (-8°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 7:48 pm from MMH
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 4 |
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.