Beech M35 accident near Coalinga, California, June 6, 1982
On June 6, 1982 at about 9:00 pm local time, a Beech M35, registered N9824R, was substantially damaged in an accident near Coalinga, California (Harris Ranch airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 6, 1982 · about 9:00 pm local time
- Place
- Coalinga, California · Harris Ranch · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech M35 · all M35s on the register
- Registration
- N9824R · no longer on the register · serial D6339
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
AS THE PILOT WAS ARRIVING TO AN UNCONTROLLED AIRPORT, HE COULD SEE A GROUP OF PLANES ON THE RUNUP PAD AT THE APPROACH END OF THE RUNWAY. AS HE CONTINUED WITH HIS ARRIVAL AND APPROACH, HE RADIOED HIS INTENTIONS, BUT HEARD NO TRANSMISSIONS FROM THE DEPARTING PLANES. WHEN HE WAS LESS THAN A MILE ON FINAL, THE LAST PLANE WAS DEPARTING. SUBSEQUENTLY, HE LANDED WITH HIS GEAR RETRACTED. AFTER THE ACCIDENT, HE LEARN THERE WERE MANY OLDER MODEL AIRCRAFT AT THE AIRPORT THAT WERE RETURNING FROM AN AIRSHOW.
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: 300 hours in all; 80 in this make and model; 20 in the last 90 days; 12 in the last 30 days; 250 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,072 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 78 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,950 lb
- Seats: 5
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-470 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: FAT Fresno CA at 1:45 pm
- Destination: Gate City VA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 32, 3,000 ft by 30 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 350° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; clear
- Temperature: 180°F (82°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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.