Beech A24R accident near Mt. Baldy, California, October 3, 1988
On October 3, 1988, a Beech A24R, registered N8065R, was destroyed in an accident near Mt. Baldy, 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
PILOT'S IMPROPER IN-FLIGHT DECISION AND ALTITUDE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 3, 1988
- Place
- Mt. Baldy, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech A24R · all A24Rs on the register
- Registration
- N8065R · no longer on the register · serial MC-56
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT HAD PREVIOUSLY FLOWN IN THE AREA OF HILLS & VALLEYS WHICH RANGED IN ALTITUDE FROM 2200 TO OVER 8000 FEET MSL. SOME OF THE VALLEY FLOORS ROSE RAPIDLY, WERE SURROUNDED BY INCREASINGLY TALLER MOUNTIANS AND WERE SHAPED LIKE A BOX CANYON. DURING THE PLEASURE FLIGHT IN VFR CONDITIONS THE PLT & HIS PAX ENTERED A BOX-LIKE CANYON. THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH 43 DEGREE UPSLOPING TERRAIN OF THE 4,000-FT MSL CANYON WALL.
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: 343 hours in all; 85 in this make and model; 13 in the last 90 days; 6 in the last 30 days; 259 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,410 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 1, 1988; 55 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,750 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360-A1B (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: CCB Upland CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 260° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 3 statute miles
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 61°F (16°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 11:55 pm from ONT, 9 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.