Beech E18S and Beech E18S mid-air collision near Buellton, California, April 7, 1984
On April 7, 1984 at about 7:25 pm local time, 2 aircraft, Beech E18S (N8711) and Beech E18S (N753CW), were involved in a mid-air collision near Buellton, California. No one was hurt; 3 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
- April 7, 1984 · about 7:25 pm local time
- Place
- Buellton, California · map
- Type
- Accident · mid-air collision
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft 1
- Beech E18S · all E18Ss on the register
- Registration
- N8711 · no longer on the register · serial BA384
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Positioning flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
- Aircraft 2
- Beech E18S · all E18Ss on the register
- Registration
- N753CW · no longer on the register · serial BA-371
- Damage
- Minor damage
- Flight
- Positioning flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative for the Beech E18S final · quoted from the NTSB record
THESE ACFT COLLIDED IN FLT WHILE BEING FERRIED. THE WEATHER WAS VMC. N8711 WAS DAMAGED SUBSTANTIALLY AND N753CW RECEIVEDMINOR DAMAGE. BOTH ACFT LANDED AT SANTA YNEZ ARPT WHERE N8711 LOST CONTROL DURING ROLLOUT AND RAN OFF THE RWY. N753CW WAS LANDED WITH THE RIGHT ENG SHUT DOWN. EACH PLT SAID THAT HE DID NOT SEE THE OTHER ACFT.
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 NTSB's narrative for the Beech E18S final · quoted from the NTSB record
THESE ACFT COLLIDED IN FLT WHILE BEING FERRIED. THE WEATHER WAS VMC. N8711 WAS DAMAGED SUBSTANTIALLY AND N753CW RECEIVEDMINOR DAMAGE. BOTH ACFT LANDED AT SANTA YNEZ ARPT WHERE N8711 LOST CONTROL DURING ROLLOUT AND RAN OFF THE RWY. N753CW WAS LANDED WITH THE RIGHT ENG SHUT DOWN. EACH PLT SAID THAT HE DID NOT SEE THE OTHER ACFT.
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 for the Beech E18S from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,025 hours in all; 700 in this make and model; 150 in the last 90 days; 1,770 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 7,420 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, June 1, 1983; 46 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 9,300 lb
- Seats: 10
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: P&W R-985 (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Coast Air Freight
The flight
- Departed from: SMX Santa Maria CA at 7:13 pm
- Destination: LGB Long Beach CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 316° at 16 knots, gusting 20
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 11:25 am
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
The factual record for the Beech E18S from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 6,336 hours in all; 2,413 in this make and model; 148 in the last 90 days; 6,199 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 9,520 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, October 1, 1983; 90 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 9,300 lb
- Seats: 10
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: P&W R-985 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SMX Santa Maria CA at 7:11 pm
- Destination: HHR Hawthorne CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
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.