Beech A36 accident near Santa Monica, California, February 19, 1984
On February 19, 1984 at about 2:44 am local time, a Beech A36, registered N9876T, was substantially damaged in an accident near Santa Monica, California (Santa Monica airport). It was a personal 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
- February 19, 1984 · about 2:44 am local time
- Place
- Santa Monica, California · Santa Monica · 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
- N9876T · registry record · serial E-795
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT STATED THAT AFTER TAKEOFF, THE ELECTRICAL SYS FAILED AS HE RETRACTED THE GEAR. HE ELECTED TO RETURN TO THE ARPT & LAND. SHORTLY THEREAFTER, THE ENG LOST POWER. HE FURTHER STATED THAT HE HAND CRANKED THE GEAR TO THE DOWN POSITION & RECEIVED A LIGHT FROM THE TOWER TO LAND. HOWEVER, WHEN HE LANDED, THE GEAR WAS NOT EXTENDED. AN EXAM OF THE ACFT REVEALED THAT THE P-LEAD ON A MAGNETO HAD BECOME DISCONNECTED. NO OTHER PREACCIDENT/MECHANICAL DISCREPANCIES WERE FOUND.
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: 292 hours in all; 292 in this make and model; 13 in the last 90 days; 292 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,547 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 12, 1984; 8 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,611 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-520-BA10B (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: OXR Oxnard CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 21, 4,987 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 240° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 40 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 59°F (15°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 2:45 am from SMO
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.