Beech 58 accident near Cherry Valley, California, January 20, 1982
On January 20, 1982 at about 5:50 pm local time, a Beech 58, registered N9395Q, was destroyed in an accident near Cherry Valley, California. 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 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
- January 20, 1982 · about 5:50 pm local time
- Place
- Cherry Valley, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Beech 58 · all 58s on the register
- Registration
- N9395Q · no longer on the register · serial TH-147
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
AT 0702 THE PLT RECEIVED A WEATHER BRIEFING FOR A VFR FLIGHT TO FRESNO. THE AREA FORECAST CONTAINED FLIGHT PRECAUTIONS FOR OBSCURED MOUNTAINS & IMC IN THE SIERRA NEVADAS, AND OCCASSIONAL MODERATE ICING BELOW 15,000 FT. THE FLIGHT DEPARTED AT 0728. THE AIRCRAFT MADE AN INITIAL IMPACT ON THE TOP OF A RIDGE AT AN ALTITUDE OF ABOUT 3,500 FT MSL.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,829 hours in all; 1,675 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 5,400 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-520-C-5 (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: B & D Aircraft
The flight
- Departed from: TUS Tucson AZ at 7:28 am
- Destination: FAT Fresno CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 240° at 9 knots
- Sky: not recorded; not recorded
- Temperature: 106°F (41°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Observation at 9:46 am from BUO, 3 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.