Cessna 195A and Beech 35 mid-air collision near San Rafael, California, April 23, 1986
On April 23, 1986 at about 11:50 pm local time, 2 aircraft, Cessna 195A (N4496C) and Beech 35 (N3947N), were involved in a mid-air collision near San Rafael, California (Smiths Ranch airport). 1 person was seriously injured; 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
- April 23, 1986 · about 11:50 pm local time
- Place
- San Rafael, California · Smiths Ranch · map
- Type
- Accident · mid-air collision
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft 1
- Cessna 195A · all 195As on the register
- Registration
- N4496C · no longer on the register · serial 16080
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
- Aircraft 2
- Beech 35 · all 35s on the register
- Registration
- N3947N · registry record · serial D1206
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative for the Cessna 195A final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE TWO AIRCRAFT COLLIDED ON THE RUNWAY DURING THE LANDING APPROACH. THE CESSNA PILOT HAD WASHED HIS AIRCRAFT AND HAD MADE A LOCAL FLIGHT TO DRY IT OFF. THE BEECH PILOT WAS RETURNING FROM A NEARBY AIRPORT WHERE AN ANNUAL INSPECTION HAD BEEN PERFORMED. WITNESSES STATED THAT THE CESSNA HAD LANDED AND WAS ROLLING ON THE RUNWAY WHEN THE BEECH LANDED ON TOP OF IT. EACH PILOT STATED THAT HE ANNOUNCED HIS INTENTIONS, BUT EACH PILOT STATED THAT HE DID NOT HEAR THE OTHER.
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 NTSB's narrative for the Beech 35 final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE TWO AIRCRAFT COLLIDED ON THE RUNWAY DURING LANDING APPROACH. THE CESSNA PILOT HAD WASHED HIS AIRCRAFT AND HAD MADE A LOCAL FLIGHT TO DRY IT OFF. THE BEECK PILOT WAS RETURNING FROM A NEARBY AIRPORT WHERE AN ANNUAL INSPECTION HAD BEEN PERFORMED. WITNESSES STATED THAT THE CESSNA HAD LANDED AND WAS ROLLING ON THE RUNWAY WHEN THE BEECK LANDED ON TOP OF IT. EACH PILOT STATED THAT HE ANNOUNCED HIS INTENTIONS, BUT EACH PILOT STATED THAT HE DID NOT HEAR THE OTHER.
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 for the Cessna 195A from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot, private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 14,000 hours in all; 1,000 in this make and model; 200 in the last 90 days; 83 in the last 30 days; 1,300 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 17, 1985; 35 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,350 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Jacobs R-755-B2 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 22, 2,138 ft by 30 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 210° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 20,000 ft; scat at 3,000 ft
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
The factual record for the Beech 35 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 354 hours in all; 263 in this make and model; 7 in the last 90 days; 297 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,580 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 22, 1986; 1 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,972 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental E185 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 056 Novato CA at 11:40 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 22, 2,138 ft by 30 ft
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.