Beech G35 accident near Fair Oaks, California, December 18, 1982
On December 18, 1982 at about 8:20 pm local time, a Beech G35, registered N218B, was substantially damaged in an accident near Fair Oaks, California (Phoenix Field). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 3 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
- December 18, 1982 · about 8:20 pm local time
- Place
- Fair Oaks, California · Phoenix Field · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech G35 · all G35s on the register
- Registration
- N218B · no longer on the register · serial D-4546
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING TAKEOFF, THE ENGINE LOST POWER AT ABOUT 50 FT AGL AFTER THE PILOT HAD RAISED THE GEAR. REPORTEDLY, THERE WAS INSUFFICIENT TIME TO EXTEND THE GEAR, SO A WHEELS-UP LANDING WAS MADE ON THE REMAINING PORTION OF THE RUNWAY. AN INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT A STRAINER IN THE CARBURETOR WAS ABOUT THREE QUARTERS CLOGGED WITH A FINE LINT-LIKE MATERIAL ASSOCIATED WITH THE FUEL TANK LINER.
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: 1,904 hours in all; 1,074 in this make and model; 6 in the last 90 days; 1,812 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,667 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 70 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,700 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental E-225-8 (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Cawms Aero INC.
The flight
- Departed from: 011 Fair Oaks CA at 12:20 pm
- Destination: Auburn CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 36, 2,600 ft by 40 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 25,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 117°F (47°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 11:56 am from MHR
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.
Other NTSB records under N218B the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.