Beech E-33 accident near Coalinga, California, September 16, 1985
On September 16, 1985 at about 8:00 pm local time, a Beech E-33, registered N3493A, was substantially damaged in an accident near Coalinga, California (Harris Ranch airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 4 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
- September 16, 1985 · about 8:00 pm local time
- Place
- Coalinga, California · Harris Ranch · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech E-33 · all E-33s on the register
- Registration
- N3493A · registry record · serial CD1234
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT DRAGGED THE TAIL AND CRASHED IN A PLOWED FIELD ABOUT 1/4 MILE EAST OF THE TAKEOFF RWY. THE PLT SAID THE ACFT BECAME 'SQUIRRELY' ON THE RWY AND WENT LEFT OFF THE RWYDESPITE HER APPLICATION OF RT RUDDER TRACKS SHOWED THAT THE ACFT LEFT RWY AFTER 250 FT OF ROLL AND BRAKING HAD OCCURRED FOR 600 FT, FIRST ON THE LEFT BRAKE, THEN BOTH BRAKES & FINALLY THE RT BRAKE ONLY. THE ACFT BECAME AIRBORNE AFTER ABOUT 950 FT & FLEW ABOUT 400 FT BEFORE THE TAIL HIT THE GROUND AND THE ACFT CRASHED, DAMAGING THE RT WING, RT STABILIZER, LNDING GEAR & NOSE.
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
- Flight time: 241 hours in all; 77 in this make and model; 56 in the last 90 days; 164 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,129 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 28, 1985; 55 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,050 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO 470K (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: RNO Reno NV
- Destination: SNA Santa Ana CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 14, 2,820 ft by 30 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
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.