Beech J35 accident near Coalinga, California, January 29, 1984
On January 29, 1984 at about 11:00 pm local time, a Beech J35, registered N8299D, was destroyed in an accident near Coalinga, California (Harris Ranch airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured and 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 29, 1984 · about 11:00 pm local time
- Place
- Coalinga, California · Harris Ranch · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech J35 · all J35s on the register
- Registration
- N8299D · registry record · serial D5381
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE CRUISING AT 8,500 FT MSL,THE PLT NOTICED A LOSS OF ALL OIL PRESSURE. HE SECURED THE ENG, LOWERED THE LANDING GEAR & WING FLAPS, & DECLARED AN EMERGENCY STATING HE WOULD ATTEMPT AN ENG OUT LANDING AT HARRIS RANCH ARPT. WHILE DESCENDINGTHROUGH 1,000 FT MSL, HE REPORTED THAT HE COULD NOT REACH THE ARPT & RETRACTED THE FLAPS. THE ACFT NOSED OVER IN A SOFT PLOWED FIELD 1/4 MI SHORT OF THE RWY. THERE WAS EVIDENCE OF AN OIL LEAK IN THE ENG & THE BOTTOM OF THE ACFT WAS COVERED WITH OIL. THERE WAS NO OIL IN THE ENG & THERE WAS A HOLE IN THE CRANKCASE CAUSED BY THE FAILURE OF THE #6 CONROD. THE OTHER CONRODS WERE OVERHEATED. THE OIL FILTER ADAPTER WAS SAFETIED BUT VERY LOOSE. THE INTERNAL & EXTERNAL THREADS WERE BADLY WORN.
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: 1,668 hours in all; 397 in this make and model; 15 in the last 90 days; 1,669 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,040 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 3, 1983; 79 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,050 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-470-C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: PSP Palm Springs CA
- Destination: HWD Hayward CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 32, 2,820 ft by 30 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 030° at 1 knots
- Visibility: 4 statute miles
- Sky: ovct at 20,000 ft
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 45°F (7°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:55 pm from NLC, 14 miles away
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.