Beech C23 accident near Little River, California, July 13, 1982
On July 13, 1982 at about 11:45 pm local time, a Beech C23, registered N6628E, was substantially damaged in an accident near Little River, California (Little River Airport). It was an instructional 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
- July 13, 1982 · about 11:45 pm local time
- Place
- Little River, California · Little River Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech C23 · all C23s on the register
- Registration
- N6628E · registry record · serial M2181
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE ON A SOLO CROSS-COUNTRY, THE STUDENT ATTEMPTED TO LAND IN A 16 KT, 70 DEG CROSSWIND AT UKIAH, CA. THE PLANE BOUNCED 3 TIMES AND DRIFTED OFF THE RUNWAY INTO THE DIRT KNOCKING OUT A RUNWAY EDGE LIGHT. THE STUDENT MADE A GO-AROUND AND PROCEEDED TO LITTLE RIVER, CA. DURING A LANDING AT LITTLE RIVER, THE NOSE GEAR COLLAPSED. A METALLURGICAL EXAMINATION SHOWED THAT THE NOSE WHEEL MOUNT ASSEMBLY, PN 169-820000-661, FAILED FROM DUCTILE OVERLOAD.
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: student
- Flight time: 28 hours in all; 15 in this make and model; 19 in the last 90 days; 11 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 737 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,450 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A4K (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 048 Little River CA
- Destination: 048 Little River CA
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 29, 5,250 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 340° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; clear
- Temperature: 154°F (68°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
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.