Beech 35 accident near Cameron Park, California, June 17, 1985
On June 17, 1985 at about 2:10 am local time, a Beech 35, registered N3790N, was destroyed in an accident near Cameron Park, California (Cameron Airpark airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 4 people were seriously injured. 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
- June 17, 1985 · about 2:10 am local time
- Place
- Cameron Park, California · Cameron Airpark · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 4 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech 35 · all 35s on the register
- Registration
- N3790N · no longer on the register · serial D-1013
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
IT COULD NOT BE DETERMINED WHICH OF THE TWO PRIVATE PLTS ON BOARD THE ACFT WAS SERVING AS PIC & AT THE CONTROLS OF THE ACFT. THE DENSITY ALT WAS COMPUTED TO BE 4100 FT. THERE WAS VERY LITTLE WIND & THE MAX ALLOWABLE GROSS WEIGHT WAS EXCEEDED BY APRX 123 POUNDS. THE RWY WAS 4060 FT LONG, BUT THE ACFT BECAME AIRBORNE AFTER ONLY 1150 FT OF ROLL. IT REACHED A MAX ALT OF 10 TO 15 FT WHEN THE WINGS BEGAN TO ROCK UP & DOWN. THE RIGHT WIND TIP CONTACTED THE DIRT OFF THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE RWY & THE ACFT SPUN AROUND IN A CLOCKWISE MANNER, COMING TO REST 1550 FT FROM WHERE THE TAKEOFF WAS INITIATED. A POST CRASH FIRE COMMENCED IMMEDIATELY, BUT THE OCCUPANTS EXITED THE ACFT ON THEIR OWN. NO PRE-IMPACT FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION OF THE ACFT WAS FOUND OR REPORTED.
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: 300 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (expired)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,200 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 1, 1985
- Maximum gross weight: 2,550 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental E-185-1 (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 31, 4,060 ft by 50 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 220° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 4,000 ft
- Temperature: 97°F (36°C), dew point 57°F (14°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 1:55 am from MHR, 17 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
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.