Beech A-36 accident near Visalia, California, September 8, 1986
On September 8, 1986 at about 3:30 am local time, a Beech A-36, registered N6650Y, was substantially damaged in an accident near Visalia, California (Visalia airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 6 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 8, 1986 · about 3:30 am local time
- Place
- Visalia, California · Visalia · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 6 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech A-36 · all A-36s on the register
- Registration
- N6650Y · no longer on the register · serial E-1517
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE AIRPLANE DEPARTED MONTEREY AIRPORT, MONTEREY, CA ON A VFR NIGHT FLIGHT. THE PLT ENTERED THE DOWNWIND LEG FOR RUNWAY 30 AND OBSERVED AN AIRPLANE DEPART ON THE RUNWAY AT WHAT SHE THOUGHT WAS ABOUT MIDFIELD. THE AIRPLANE HAD DEPARTED FROM THE RUNWAY THRESHOLD. WHILE ON FINAL APPROACH SHE REALIZED THAT SHE HAD MISTAKEN THE APPROACH LIGHTS FOR THE RUNWAY LIGHTS. SHE TURNED TO HER HUSBAND WHO WAS OCCUPYING A REAR SEAT AND STATED THAT SHE WAS IN TROUBLE. AT THIS TIME THE STALL WARNING HORN SOUNDED AND SHE THEN PUSHED THE AIRPLANE'S NOSE DOWNWARD. THE AIRPLANE ALMOST IMMEDIATELY COLLIDED WITH THE APPROACH LIGHTS AND CRASHED. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT THE AIRPLANE DID NOT SUSTAIN ANY PREIMACT MALFUNCTIONS OR FAILURES.
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: 696 hours in all; 646 in this make and model; 27 in the last 90 days; 4 in the last 30 days; 599 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 13 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 11, 1986; 13 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,600 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-520-BB (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: MRY Monterey CA at 2:30 am
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 30, 6,556 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 5 |
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.