Beech F33/G accident near Groveland, California, June 28, 2008
On June 28, 2008 at about 4:25 am local time, a Beech F33/G, registered N331HP, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Groveland, California (Pine Mountain Lake Airport). It was a personal 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 pilot's inadequate compensation for the gusty crosswind conditions and failure to maintain proper alignment at touchdown resulting in a side load on the landing gear, which caused them to collapse.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 28, 2008 · about 4:25 am local time
- Place
- Groveland, California · Pine Mountain Lake Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech F33/G · all F33/Gs on the register
- Registration
- N331HP · no longer on the register · serial CE1334
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
During the landing flare, a crosswind gust blew the airplane off the runway centerline path. The airspeed was too low to perform a go-around, so the pilot attempted to regain the runway centerline. The airplane touched down while moving laterally, and the landing gear became side loaded and collapsed. The airplane slid off the runway and stopped.
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
What happened, in order
- Landing gear collapse during landing (flare/touchdown) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Crosswind › Not specified
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Gusts › Not specified
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Crosswind correction › Not attained/maintained
- Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Landing gear system › (general) › Capability exceeded
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Heading/course › Not attained/maintained
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,454 hours in all; 1,161 in this make and model; 24 in the last 90 days; 11 in the last 30 days
- Last flight review: September 1, 2007
- Medical certificate: Class 2
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,301 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 1, 2007
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-520-BB (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Zplane, LLC
The flight
- Departed from: VNY Van Nuys CA
- Destination: E45 Groveland CA
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 9, 3,625 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 340° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
- Altimeter: 29.79 inHg
- Observation at 3:53 am from MOD
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight 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.