Beech M35 accident near Swall Meadows, California, June 7, 1986
On June 7, 1986 at about 7:04 pm local time, a Beech M35, registered N398Z, was destroyed in an accident near Swall Meadows, California (Swall Meadows airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 3 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 7, 1986 · about 7:04 pm local time
- Place
- Swall Meadows, California · Swall Meadows · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 3 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech M35 · all M35s on the register
- Registration
- N398Z · no longer on the register · serial D6560
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE CIVIL AIR PATROL (CAP) ORGANIZED & PROVIDED INSTRUCTORS TO TEACH CAP MISSION PLTS TECHNIQUES OF 'HIGH ALTITUDE' SEARCH FLYING DURING A 2-DAY COURSE. THE CURRICULUM INCLUDED MAKING A LANDING APPROACH TO A 6080 FT ELEVATION AIRSTRIP. THE APPROACH WAS TO BE TERMINATED WITH A GO-AROUND FOR WHICH SUCCESSFUL EXECUTION REQUIRED PROMPTLY TURNING THE ACFT AWAY FROM THE RISING TERRAIN LOCATED BEYOND THE DEPARTURE END OF THE RWY. THE TRAINEE-PILOT FLEW THE APPROACH BUT ALLOWED THE AIRSPEED TO SLOW BELOW THE BEST ANGLE OF CLIMB. WHILE THE GEAR & FLAPS WERE BEING RAISED THE PLT ALSO FAILED TO PROMPTLY TURN THE ACFT AWAY FROM THE RISING TERRAIN. BECAUSE OF THE 8500 FT DENSITY ALTITUDE, THE ACFT'S CLIMB PERFORMANCE WAS DEGRADED, & THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH THE RISING TERRAIN. THE CFI FAILED TO ADEQUATELY MONITOR HIS STUDENT'S PERFORMANCE, & HE FAILED TO FOLLOW ESTABLISHED CAP PROCEDURES WHICH REQUIRED HIM TO ISSUE MISSION ABORT INSTRUCTIONS IN A TIMELY MANNER.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,136 hours in all; 30 in the last 90 days; 10 in the last 30 days; 980 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 6, 1986
- Maximum gross weight: 3,150 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-470-C(1) (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: BIH Bishop CA at 5:47 pm
- Runway 32, 2,000 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 135° at 5 knots, gusting 10
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 | |||
| 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.