Beech A36 accident near Rialto, California, October 3, 1982
On October 3, 1982 at about 9:30 pm local time, a Beech A36, registered N4603A, was substantially damaged in an accident near Rialto, California (Rialto Municipal airport). It was an instructional 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 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
- October 3, 1982 · about 9:30 pm local time
- Place
- Rialto, California · Rialto Municipal · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech A36 · all A36s on the register
- Registration
- N4603A · no longer on the register · serial E-209
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE CRUISING AT 9500 FT MSL, THE ENGINE BEGAN RUNNING ROUGH. THE PILOT DIVERTED TO RIALTO MUNICIPAL AIRPORT FOR A PRECAUTIONARY LANDING. WHILE ON BASE LEG, THE ENGINE QUIT COMPLETELY. FROM THAT POSITION, THE PILOT WAS UNABLE TO REACH THE RUNWAY. THE AIRCRAFT TOUCHED DOWN ABOUT 1/4 MILE SHORT, AND DURING THE LANDING ROLL, IT COLLIDED WITH A DITCH. AN INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT THE ENGINE CRANKSHAFT HAD FAILED FROM FATIGUE. PREVIOUSLY, THE AIRCRAFT HAD BEEN INVOLVED IN A GEAR-UP LANDING. NO RECORD WAS FOUND TO VERIFY AN INSPECTION OF THE CRANKSHAFT IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE ACCEPTED PRACTICES FOLLOWING A PROPELLER STRIKE.
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: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 15,280 hours in all; 3,000 in this make and model; 115 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,900 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 30 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,600 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-520-BA (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Eagle Aviation
The flight
- Departed from: LGB Long Beach CA at 2:00 pm
- Destination: LAS Las Vegas NV
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 24, 3,600 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 240° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; clear
- Temperature: 158°F (70°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 |
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.