Beech A36 accident near Carlsbad, California, September 28, 2008
On September 28, 2008 at about 2:15 pm local time, a Beech A36, registered N82TB, was destroyed in an accident during approach (IFR final approach) near Carlsbad, California (Mcclellan-Palomar Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was 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 control during the instrument approach and attempted go-around.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 28, 2008 · about 2:15 pm local time
- Place
- Carlsbad, California · Mcclellan-Palomar Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Beech A36 · all A36s on the register
- Registration
- N82TB · no longer on the register · serial E-1216
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airplane was on an Instrument Landing System (ILS) approach to Runway 24. The reported weather was 100-foot ceiling and 1/4-mile visibility in fog at the airport. The published weather minimums for the ILS 24 approach are 200-foot ceiling and 3/4-mile visibility. The tower controller relayed to the pilot that the runway visual range was 1,600 feet (1/4 mile), winds were 280 degrees at 5 knots, and the flight was cleared to land on Runway 24. About 2 minutes later the tower controller issued the pilot a low altitude alert, followed by a notification that it appeared that the pilot was south of course. About 2 minutes later, the pilot transmitted that he was going to ‘abort’ the approach. The pilot's last transmission 1 minute later stated "I’m in trouble." Despite numerous attempts, no further communications with the pilot were established. Radar data indicated that, 2 miles from the approach end of Runway 24, the airplane crossed over the final approach course at 800 feet msl (mean sea level) heading south. The track started a tight left-hand turn with altitude readings that fluctuated between 600 and 1,100 feet msl. The last radar return depicted the airplane at 900 feet msl and at a ground speed of 56 knots. The airplane wreckage was confined to the initial impact point, located on an approximate 40-degree sloping hillside, 1.3 miles southeast of the approach end of Runway 24, in the same vicinity as the last radar return. Post accident inspection of the airframe and engine found no evidence of a mechanical failure or malfunction. The pilot had received his instrument rating 2 months prior to the accident, and had accumulated approximately 41 hours of actual instrument time. Approximately 11.1 hours of dual instruction had been accumulated in the accident airplane. The pilot received no instrument flight training in the accident airplane.
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
- Loss of control in flight during approach (IFR final approach) defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during uncontrolled descent
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › (general) › Not attained/maintained
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Ceiling/visibility/precip › Low ceiling › Effect on operation
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Ceiling/visibility/precip › Fog › Effect on operation
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 899 hours in all; 11 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,836 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 12, 2008
- Maximum gross weight: 3,600 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Teledyne Continental IO-550-B(4) (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: KHII Lake Havasu Cit AZ at 1:13 pm
- Destination: KCRQ Carlsbad CA
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 24, 4,897 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 280° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 0 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 100 ft
- Temperature: 63°F (17°C), dew point 61°F (16°C)
- Altimeter: 29.93 inHg
- Observation at 2:53 pm from KCRQ, 1 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 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.