Beech A-36 accident near Bermuda Dunes, California, November 13, 1983
On November 13, 1983 at about 1:30 am local time, a Beech A-36, registered N3821Z, was substantially damaged in an accident near Bermuda Dunes, California (Bermuda Dunes 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
- November 13, 1983 · about 1:30 am local time
- Place
- Bermuda Dunes, California · Bermuda Dunes · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech A-36 · all A-36s on the register
- Registration
- N3821Z · no longer on the register · serial EA-193
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH A CHAIN LINK FENCE AND SAND DUNES DURING AN ATTEMPTED GO-AROUND AFTER LANDING. THE PLT SAID THAT AFTER LANDING THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED TO NO AVAIL SO AT MIDFIELD THE PLT ELECTED TO GO-AROUND. DURING THE GO-AROUND THE ACFT DRIFTED OFF THE RWY JUST MISSING PARKED ACFT, HIT THE FENCE AND IMPACTED IN THE SAND DUNES OF A VACANT LOT. AFTER THE ACCIDENT AN FAA INSPECTOR FOUND A STREAK OF HYDRAULIC FLUID ON THE MID-SECTION OF THE RWY. IT WAS FOUND THAT RIGHT BRAKE BLEEDER SCREW WAS MISSING HOWEVER THE RIGHT HAND BRAKE ASSEMBLY BLEEDER FITTING PORT HAD TOW THREADS DISTORTED ANDCOMPRESSION DAMAGE NOTED WITH TWO THREADS ON THE OPPOSITE SIDE STRIPPED OUT. THE BRAKE CASTING HAD WHAT APPEARED TO BE RWY SCRAPE MARKS ON THE BLEEDER PORT BOSS. THE RIGHT TIRE WAS FLAT AND LEFT AND RIGHT SKID MARKS WERE NOTED IN THE GRASSAS THE ACFT LEFT THE RWY BEFORE CONTACT WITH THE SAND DUNES. ACCORDING TO THE ARPT MANAGER THERE WAS A LEFT CROSSWIND ATTHE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT.
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: 4,000 hours in all; 33 in this make and model; 33 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 600 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded, July 12, 1983; 20 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,600 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-520-BA (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: PGA Page AZ at 11:30 pm
- Destination: UDD Bermuda Dunes CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 29, 4,030 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night, bright
- Wind: from 300° at 17 knots
- Visibility: 40 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
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.