Beech 60 accident near Lake Casitas, California, January 26, 1984
On January 26, 1984, a Beech 60, registered N300SF, was substantially damaged in an accident near Lake Casitas, California. It was a ferry flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. 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
- January 26, 1984
- Place
- Lake Casitas, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech 60 · all 60s on the register
- Registration
- N300SF · registry record · serial P313
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Ferry flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT WAS TOLD BY HIS COMPANY TO DELIVER THE RECENTLY SOLD ACFT TO ITS NEW OWNER. DURING THE FLT, AN INTERMEDIATE STOPWAS MADE, BUT NO FUEL WAS ADDED BECAUSE THE PLT BELIEVED HE HAD ENOUGH FUEL. FUEL EXHAUSTION OCCURRED ABOUT 20 MINUTES AFTER DEPARTURE. ONLY A COUPLE OF OUNCES OF FUEL WAS FOUND ABOARD THE ACFT AND NO FUEL STAINS OR LEAKS WERE NOTED AFTER THE ACCIDENT. ACCORDING TO THE PLT, THE FUEL GAGES INDICATED THAT THERE WAS APRX 50 GAL ON EACH SIDE JUST BEFORE THE ENGS STARTED SURGING & LOSING POWER. DURING A FORCED LANDING IN A MUDDY FIELD, THE ACFT NOSED OVER AS IT CAME TO REST INA RAVINE.
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, flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 5,800 hours in all; 200 in this make and model; 194 in the last 90 days; 83 in the last 30 days; 5,748 as pilot in command; 2,800 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,475 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 19, 1984; 10 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 6,775 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming TIO-541-E1C4 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SMX Santa Maria CA at 11:40 pm
- Destination: VNY Van Nuys CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 25 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.