Beech A23 accident near Big Bear City, California, February 20, 1988
On February 20, 1988 at about 11:14 pm local time, a Beech A23, registered N1461L, was destroyed in an accident near Big Bear City, California. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. 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
- February 20, 1988 · about 11:14 pm local time
- Place
- Big Bear City, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech A23 · all A23s on the register
- Registration
- N1461L · no longer on the register · serial M856
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PASSENGER TOLD FRIENDS THAT THE PILOT WAS GOING TO PERFORM SOME AEROBATIC MANEUVERS NEAR THE LODGE WHERE THEY WERE STAYING. THE OTHER RESIDENTS IN THE LODGE REPORTED THAT THE AIRPLANE FLEW VERY LOW OVER THE HOUSE AND PROCEEDED TOWARDS THE EAST. AFTER REACHING THE EASTERN SIDE OF THE VALLEY, THE PILOT EXECUTED A 180 DEG RIGHT TURN TOWARDS THE LODGE. WHEN THE AIRPLANE WAS ABOUT 1000 YARDS EAST OF THE LODGE, THE PILOT PULLED THE AIRPLANE INTO A NEAR VERTICAL CLIMBING ATTITUDE AND ENTERED INTO WHAT WAS DESCRIBED BY THE WITNESSES AS A HAMMERHEAD STALL TYPE MANEUVER. THE AIRPLANE THEN PITCHED DNWARD. BEFORE REACHING TREES, IT APPEARED THE NOSE WAS COMING UP BUT THE AIRPLANE DISAPPEARED BEHIND THE TREELINE. SHORTLY THEREAFTER THE WITNESSES HEARD A MUFFLED IMPACT SOUND AND THEN SAW A FIREBALL EMANATING FROM BEHIND THE TREELINE. THE INVESTIGATION DSCLD NO EVIDENCE OF ANY AIRPLANE PREIMPACT MALFUNCTIONS.
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: 1,002 hours in all; 56 in the last 90 days; 16 in the last 30 days; 945 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 2,350 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental IO-346A (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: L35 Big Bear City CA
- Destination: L35
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Observation at 3:14 pm
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.