Beech A36 accident near Chino, California, November 10, 2002
On November 10, 2002 at about 3:48 pm local time, a Beech A36, registered N69DG, was substantially damaged in an accident near Chino, California (Chino Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the pilot's failure to understand his IFR clearance, which resulted in a diversion of his attention during the initial climb, and his failure to maintain control of the aircraft.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 10, 2002 · about 3:48 pm local time
- Place
- Chino, California · Chino Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Beech A36 · all A36s on the register
- Registration
- N69DG · no longer on the register · serial E547
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airplane collided with a power line during the initial climb of an instrument departure. Prior to departure, the pilot received weather briefings reporting that localized ground fog engulfed the airport of intended departure . While holding short of the runway, the ground controller read the departure clearance to the pilot. The pilot in turn copied, and read back part of the clearance, which excluded the departure frequency. After take off, he started a climbing left turn and the controller directed him to contact departure. Not knowing the frequency, he requested that the tower advise him as to what frequency to change to; the tower replied with the appropriate frequency. The pilot glanced at his radios and noted that the active and standby frequencies were not tuned into the frequency the tower had prescribed. He reached over and input the frequency that corresponded with the tower's assignment. After tuning in the correct frequency, he looked back at the instrument panel and then outside the cockpit. He noticed that wires were directly in his flight path, with a building close behind them. The left wing impacted a power line and the airplane came to rest in a pasture; a post impact fire consumed the airplane. The airport's weather observation facility reported that 5 minutes after the accident the runway visual range was less than 1/4 statute miles visibility and vertical visibility was 100 feet.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,000 hours in all; 1,500 in this make and model; 40 in the last 90 days; 6 in the last 30 days; 2,000 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: October 27, 2002
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,986 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 29, 2001; 50 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,600 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-520-BA (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: CNO Chino CA at 3:46 pm
- Destination: OTX1 Granbury TX
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 26R, 4,858 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 0.2 statute miles
- Sky: vv at 1 ft
- Temperature: 54°F (12°C), dew point 54°F (12°C)
- Altimeter: 30.12 inHg
- Observation at 4:00 pm from CNO, 1 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 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.