Beech M35 accident near Santa Ana, California, February 19, 1984
On February 19, 1984 at about 6:25 pm local time, a Beech M35, registered N280AA, was substantially damaged in an accident near Santa Ana, California (John Wyane 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 6:25 pm local time
- Place
- Santa Ana, California · John Wyane · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech M35 · all M35s on the register
- Registration
- N280AA · registry record · serial D 6375
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT REPORTED THAT HE HAD AN ELECTRICAL FAILURE AFTER TAKEOFF. HE REMAINED IN THE TRAFFIC PATTERN & LOWERED THE LANDING GEAR ON THE DOWNWIND LEG. DURING THE LANDING ROLL, ALL THREE GEAR COLLAPSED. THE PLT DID NOT MANUALLY CRANK THE LANDING GEAR DOWN. THE BATTERY WIRE TO THE GENERATOR WAS FOUND DISCONNECTED.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 320 hours in all; 211 in this make and model; 125 in the last 90 days; 246 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 2, 1983
- Maximum gross weight: 2,950 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-470-C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: PSP Palm Springs CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 1R, 2,888 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 030° at 22 knots
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 14°F (-10°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:45 pm from SNA
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.