Beech A36 accident near Salinas, California, December 7, 1984
On December 7, 1984 at about 7:26 pm local time, a Beech A36, registered N6052M, was substantially damaged in an accident near Salinas, California (Salinas airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. 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 November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 7, 1984 · about 7:26 pm local time · cases in 1984
- Place
- Salinas, California · Salinas · cases near this airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech A36 · all A36s on the register
- Registration
- N6052M · registry record · serial E-195
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING WALK-AROUND PREFLIGHT, PLT WAS CHECKING THE PROP FOR NICKS AND DECIDED TO 'TURN THE PROP THROUGH' BY HAND TO 'LOOSEN THE OIL AND COAT CYLINDER WALLS,' ASSUMING THE POWER PLANT CONTROLS TO BE OFF AND SECURE. THE ENGINE STARTED AT FULL POWER AND THE UNOCCUPIED ACFT TAXIIED ACROSS THE RAMP AND COLLIDED WITH 2 'T' HANGARS AND ANOTHER ACFT. INVESTIGATION REVEALED THE THROTTLE SET AT FULL POWER. THE MAGNETOS WERE FOUND IN THE 'OFF' POSITION. BENCH TEST OF THE MAGNETOS DISCLOSED NO MECHANICAL OR ELECTRICAL DISCREPANCIES.
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: 1,500 hours in all; 1,000 in this make and model; 16 in the last 90 days; 5 in the last 30 days; 1,500 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,867 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 7, 1984; 43 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,600 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-520-BB (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SNS Salinas CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 100° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 12,000 ft; not recorded at 12,000 ft
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 48°F (9°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 7:50 pm from SNS
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.
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N6052M on the register today · the tail number may have moved to another aircraft since
- Beechcraft A36 Bonanza 2,530 registered today · the model family and its accident history
- Beechcraft 6 aircraft on the register
- Engine: Continental IO-520-BB 44 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Salinas Municipal · nearest airport
- Accidents and incidents in California 9,080 since 1982 · 1,096 in the last ten years
- California 28,134 aircraft registered
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/LAX85LA062.json.
The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.
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 does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.