Beech A36TC accident near Carson, California, September 6, 1985
On September 6, 1985 at about 5:41 pm local time, a Beech A36TC, registered N3801Z, was substantially damaged in an accident near Carson, California. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was 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
- September 6, 1985 · about 5:41 pm local time
- Place
- Carson, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech A36TC · all A36TCs on the register
- Registration
- N3801Z · no longer on the register · serial EA-168
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT LOST PWR AT 1500 FT SHORTLY AFTER DEPARTURE FROM COMPTON, CA. THE PLT PERFORMED AN EMERGENCY LANDING ON A DIRT ROAD AND THE ACFT CONTACTED A CONCRETE CURB. THE ENG HAD A BEECH MANDATORY SERVICE BULLETIN NO. 2033 COMPLETED THE DAY BEFORE THE ACCIDENT WHICH MODIFIED THE FUEL SYSTEM. TESTS OF THE VARIABLE ABSOLUTE PRESSURE CONTROLLER DISCLOSEDTHAT THE ALPHA ANGLE WAS SET AT 10 TO 11 DEGS OVER THE LIMITS.
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: 450 hours in all; 432 in this make and model; 20 in the last 90 days; 350 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 457 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 25, 1985; 19 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,650 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental TSIO-520-UB (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: CPM Compton CA at 5:37 pm
- Destination: MYF San Diego CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 2,900 ft; not recorded at 2,900 ft
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 57°F (14°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 5:50 pm from LGB, 10 miles away
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.