Beech C23 accident near Mammoth Lakes, California, August 8, 1987
On August 8, 1987 at about 9:35 pm local time, a Beech C23, registered N24651, was substantially damaged in an accident near Mammoth Lakes, California (Mammoth Lakes airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 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
- August 8, 1987 · about 9:35 pm local time
- Place
- Mammoth Lakes, California · Mammoth Lakes · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech C23 · all C23s on the register
- Registration
- N24651 · no longer on the register · serial M1413
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING A PLEASURE FLIGHT, JUST AFTER TAKE-OFF, THE ENGINE EXPERIENCED A PARTIAL LOSS OF POWER WHEN THE PLT POSITIONED THE CARB HEAT CONTROL TO FULL COLD. THE PLT STATED THAT IN ORDER TO OBTAIN FULL POWER, DURING THE RUNUP HE WOULD POSITION THE CARB HEAT TO ONE EIGHTH HOT. INSPECTION AND A FLOW TEST OF THE CARB REVEALED THAT THE CARB WOULD SUSTAIN ENGINE OPERATION. THERE WERE NO MECHANICAL FAILURES OR MALFUNCTIONS REPORTED. THE TEMPERATURE RECORDED AT MAMMOTH LAKES AIRPORT 13 MINUTES AFTER THE ACCIDENT WAS 82 DEGREES. THE DENSITY ALTITUDE WAS 10,300 FEET. THE DEW POINT WAS NOT RECORDED THEREFORE THE PROBABILITY OF CARBURETOR ICING COULD NOT BE DETERMINED.
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: 324 hours in all; 60 in this make and model; 54 in the last 90 days; 12 in the last 30 days; 277 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,052 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 19, 1987; 26 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,450 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A4G (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: APC Napa CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 9, 7,000 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 120° at 10 knots, gusting 20
- Visibility: 40 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 7,000 ft
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 9:48 pm from MMH, 1 miles away
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.