Beech 36 accident near Livermore, California, December 23, 2005
On December 23, 2005 at about 11:20 pm local time, a Beech 36, registered N5942S, was substantially damaged in an accident near Livermore, California (Livermore Muni airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain the appropriate glidepath alignment during an instrument landing system approach, resulting in collision with terrain. A contributing factor to the accident was the failure of the air traffic controllers to issue a minimum safe altitude warning (MSAW) alert.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 23, 2005 · about 11:20 pm local time
- Place
- Livermore, California · Livermore Muni · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Beech 36 · all 36s on the register
- Registration
- N5942S · no longer on the register · serial E-17
- 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 terrain 9 miles from the destination airport. The pilot was cleared for the instrument landing system approach into the airport. During the descent, the airplane was below the glideslope but tracking the localizer. The pilot contacted the air traffic control tower controller and was cleared to land. The last recorded radar target for the airplane was at 1,600 feet mean sea level (msl) and the initial impact occurred at 1,400 feet msl. The radar data indicated that the target maintained a descent rate of about 1,100 feet per minute during the last minute of flight and was flying at a radar derived ground speed of approximately 112 knots. Though the en route controller received a minimum safe altitude alert (MSAW), he had transferred control of the airplane 1 minute prior to the receipt of the initial MSAW alert. However, the airplane crossed a named intersection at 3,300 feet msl after it was cleared to cross the intersection at 4,000 feet msl while under the en route controller's control. The en route controller did not advise the pilot of the altitude deviation. The air traffic control tower controller did not issue an MSAW to the pilot, even though the equipment was configured to receive MSAW alerts. The tower controller said that he did not recall receiving the alerts and no recording was available to indicate whether or not an aural MSAW alert was received. An evaluation of the operation of the MSAW alerting system following the accident showed that it was functional. Examination of the airframe and engine did not reveal any mechanical anomalies to preclude normal operation. Metallurgical examination of the altimeter showed that the 10,000-foot pointer was not at its correct position at the time of impact and at an undetermined time prior to the accident, moved aft on its shaft and became loose. The effect of the 10,000-foot pointer on the pilot's flight performance could not be ascertained with the available evidence.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,250 hours in all; 7 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 8,358 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 1, 2005; 37 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,600 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Teledyne Continental IO-520-BA (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SBA Santa Barbara CA at 9:42 pm
- Destination: LVK Livermore CA
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 130° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 3 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 600 ft
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 57°F (14°C)
- Altimeter: 30.21 inHg
- Observation at 11:21 pm from KLVK, 9 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.