Beech 23 accident near San Carlos, California, October 28, 1988
On October 28, 1988 at about 10:14 pm local time, a Beech 23, registered N2340Z, was substantially damaged in an accident near San Carlos, California (San Carlos airport). It was an instructional 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 November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 28, 1988 · about 10:14 pm local time · cases in 1988
- Place
- San Carlos, California · San Carlos · cases near this airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech 23 · all 23s on the register
- Registration
- N2340Z · registry record · serial M-50
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING A TELEPHONE INTERVIEW THE PILOT STATED THAT HE LANDED TOO FAR DOWN RUNWAY 12. HE SAID THAT WHEN HE CONSIDERED GOING AROUND, HE WAS ALREADY COMMITTED TO COMPLETE THE LANDING. WINDS AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT WERE REPORTED TO BE FROM 360 DEGREES AT 5 KNOTS. THE PILOT STATED THAT THERE WERE NO PASSENGERS ABOARD THE AIRCRAFT. THE FAA REPORTED THAT A YOUNG FEMALE WAS NOTICED EMERGING FROM THE AIRPLANE IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE ACCIDENT BY AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLERS. THERE WERE NO MECHANICAL PROBLEMS REPORTED PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT.
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: student
- Flight time: 51 hours in all; 51 in this make and model; 30 in the last 90 days; 7 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,630 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection; 75 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-D2B (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SQL at 10:20 pm
- Destination: SQL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 12, 2,600 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 360° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 8 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 3,500 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 63°F (17°C), dew point 48°F (9°C)
- Observation at 9:45 pm from SQL
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.
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N2340Z on the register today · the tail number may have moved to another aircraft since
- Beechcraft 23 146 registered today · the model family and its accident history
- Beechcraft 6 aircraft on the register
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-D2B 18 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- San Carlos Airport · nearest airport
- Accidents and incidents in California 9,080 since 1982 · 1,097 in the last ten years
- California 27,897 aircraft registered
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/LAX89LA026.json.
The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.
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 does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.