Beech 35-B33 accident near Thermal, California, September 13, 1986
On September 13, 1986 at about 9:07 pm local time, a Beech 35-B33, registered N917Q, was substantially damaged in an accident near Thermal, California (Thermal airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was 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 13, 1986 · about 9:07 pm local time
- Place
- Thermal, California · Thermal · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech 35-B33 · all 35-B33s on the register
- Registration
- N917Q · no longer on the register · serial CD-408
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT DEPARTED ON A LOCAL FLIGHT TO PUT 'SOME BREAK IN TIME' ON A NEWLY INSTALLED ENGINE CYLINDER. THE PILOT STATED THAT HE' DEPARTED WITH A LOW FUEL LEVEL BUT WAS ONLY GOING TO BE UP FOR A LITTLE WHILE.' AFTER 40 MINUTES OF FLIGHT TIME, THE PILOT RETURNED TO THE AIRPORT AND THE ENGINE LOST POWER WHILE ON FINAL APPROACH. THE AIRCRAFT COLLIDED WITH TREES ABOUT ONE HALF MILE SHORT OF THE RUNWAY. EXAMINATION OF THE AIRCRAFT REVEALED 'ONLY RESIDUAL FUEL' REMAINED IN BOTH WING TANKS.
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
- Flight time: 526 hours in all; 187 in this make and model; 30 in the last 90 days; 24 in the last 30 days; 480 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 3, 1986; 2 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,000 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental I0-470-K (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 17, 5,000 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 40 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 91°F (33°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 8:15 pm from TRM
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.