Beech A-36 accident near Hayward, California, May 10, 1985
On May 10, 1985 at about 7:32 pm local time, a Beech A-36, registered N2022B, was destroyed in an accident near Hayward, California (Hayward Air Terminal airport). It was an executive or corporate flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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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 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 10, 1985 · about 7:32 pm local time
- Place
- Hayward, California · Hayward Air Terminal · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech A-36 · all A-36s on the register
- Registration
- N2022B · registry record · serial E-733
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Executive or corporate flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
ACCORDING TO THE ATCT TAPES, 3 MINS ELAPSED BETWEEN THE TIME THE ACFT CALLED FOR TAXI FROM PARKING TO READY FOR TAKEOFF AT THE ACTIVE RWY. JUST AFTER LIFTOFF THE ACFT EXPERIENCED A 'MISSING' & 'BACKFIRING' ENGINE AS REPORTED BY WITNESSES. PLT RADIOED THE TOWER THAT HE WAS HAVING PROBLEMS, WAS RETURNING TO THE ARPT & 'MIGHT HAVE TO MAKE A 180.' AT ABOUT 200 FT AGL ON A CLOSE CROSSWIND LEG, WITNESSES SAW THE ACFT MAKE A TIGHT STEEPLY BANKED RT TURN TO LINE UP WITH A TAXIWAY JUST PRIOR TO THE ACFT ABRUPTLY PITCHING DOWN, ROLLING RT & IMPACTING ON GOLF COURSE FAIRWAY. EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE REVEALED THAT THE ENGINE DRIVEN FUEL PUMP DID NOT WORK WHEN INSTALLED IN A TEST STAND. BOTH RUST & CORROSION DEPOSITS WERE FOUND IN THE PUMP & FUEL METERING UNITS. THE ACFT HAD ACCUMULATED 909 HRS IN 10 YRS TIME WITHOUT AN ENGINE OR COMPONENT OVERHAUL.
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, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 5,493 hours in all; 300 in this make and model; 74 in the last 90 days; 12 in the last 30 days; 2,590 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 909 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 29, 1984; 124 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,600 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-520-BA (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: HWD at 7:28 pm
- Destination: MCE Merced CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 270° at 15 knots
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 2,500 ft; not recorded at 2,500 ft
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 7:36 pm from HWD
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number LAX85FA251.