Beech 77 accident near San Martin, California, December 23, 1984
On December 23, 1984 at about 6:33 am local time, a Beech 77, registered N67216, was substantially damaged in an accident near San Martin, California (S.County Of Santa Maria airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. 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
- December 23, 1984 · about 6:33 am local time
- Place
- San Martin, California · S.County Of Santa Maria · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech 77 · all 77s on the register
- Registration
- N67216 · no longer on the register · serial WA-87
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
ON A NIGHT PLEASURE FLT THE AFCT'S ALTERNATOR WENT OFF LINE.THE PLT ELECTED TO MAKE AN IMMEDIATE LANDING AT THE ARPT HE WAS OVERFLYING RATHER THAN FLYING TO A FLD WHICH HAD OPERATING RWY LIGHTS. THE FLD HE WAS OVER HAD A PLT-CONTROLLED LIGHTING SYSTEM, BUT THE PLT SAID HE WAS UNABLE TO ACTIVATE THE LIGHTS. THE PLT MISTOOK A TAXIWAY WHICH WAS UNDER CONSTRUCTION FOR THE RWY & AFTER TOUCHDOWN COLLIDED WITH A DIRT MOUND & NOSED OVER.
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: multi-engine land; single-engine land; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 448 hours in all; 11 in this make and model; 24 in the last 90 days; 19 in the last 30 days; 372 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 702 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 1,675 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-L2C (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Squadron 2 Flying Club
The flight
- Departed from: RHV San Jose CA at 6:00 am
- Destination: RHU San Jose CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 12
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 120° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Observation at 10:15 pm
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.