Beech A36TC accident near Los Angeles, California, June 6, 2003
On June 6, 2003 at about 10:55 pm local time, a Beech A36TC, registered N1856P, was destroyed in an accident near Los Angeles, California. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 4 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the pilot's in-flight loss of control due to spatial disorientation, and failure to maintain airspeed, which resulted in a stall/spin. Also causal was the pilot's disregard of the weather information provided and his attempt to continue VFR flight into IMC. A factor in the accident was the pilot's self-induced pressure to complete the flight.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 6, 2003 · about 10:55 pm local time
- Place
- Los Angeles, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 4 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech A36TC · all A36TCs on the register
- Registration
- N1856P · no longer on the register · serial EA-271
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
During the en route climb-out, the airplane entered the base of an overcast cloud layer, and then descended out of the clouds in a spinning, steep nose down attitude that continued to impact with a 3-story apartment building. A post-impact fire destroyed the airplane. Earlier that day, the pilot received three weather briefings from the FSS. Each briefer indicated that AIRMETS were in effect for IFR conditions and mountain obscuration, and advised the pilot to call back after 1300 for updated weather. During the second briefing, the briefer stated that VFR flight was not recommended. On the last briefing, the briefer indicated that the weather conditions were marginal towards the east with at least 3 miles visibility. The pilot inquired if he could legally fly, to which the briefer replied that yes, he was legal to fly, but that the weather conditions were marginal. After takeoff, the pilot asked the controller if he knew if the weather was clearing towards the east. The controller stated that it was not clear towards the east. The pilot then said that he was going to fly towards the east, and find a break or hole in the clouds to "pop up through." Controllers received no further transmissions from the pilot on any frequency. Cloud bases in the area for a 12-hour period ranged from 2,200 feet to 3,100 feet overcast, with tops ranging from 3,800 feet to 4,000 feet agl. The pilot did not hold an instrument rating. The pilot and passengers had been at the airport for at least 8 hours waiting for weather conditions to clear. One passenger was going to be dropped off at Las Vegas, and the pilot and remaining two remaining passengers were going to continue to Sun Valley, Idaho. Post accident examination of the airframe and engine revealed no mechanical anomalies.
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: 1,111 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,888 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 26, 2002
- Maximum gross weight: 3,600 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Teledyne Continental TSIO-520-UB (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: SMO Santa Monica CA at 10:45 pm
- Destination: LAS Las Vegas NV
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 240° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 3,100 ft; clear
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 57°F (14°C)
- Altimeter: 29.93 inHg
- Observation at 10:51 pm from SMO, 10 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
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.
Other NTSB records under N1856P the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.