Beech K35 accident near Arbuckle, California, December 7, 1988
On December 7, 1988 at about 1:30 am local time, a Beech K35, registered N9569R, was substantially damaged in an accident near Arbuckle, California. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. 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
- December 7, 1988 · about 1:30 am local time
- Place
- Arbuckle, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech K35 · all K35s on the register
- Registration
- N9569R · no longer on the register · serial 2-6104
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING CRUISE FLIGHT, THE PILOT NOTED OIL ON THE WINDSHIELD. THE PILOT DIVERTED TO A NEARBY AIRPORT. ENROUTE THE WINDSHIELD BECAME COVERED WITH OIL. THE PILOT OPTED TO MAKE AN EMERGENCY LANDING ON A ROAD. DUE TO POWER LINES, HE DIVERTED TO AN OPEN FIELD. JUST PRIOR TO TOUCH DOWN, A CONNECTING ROD BROKE AND EXITED THROUGH THE TOP OF THE ENGINE. DURING THE LANDING ROLL, THE NOSE GEAR COLLAPSED AND THE AIRPLANE NOSED OVER.
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: 111 hours in all; 62 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,048 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 1, 1988; 15 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,950 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-470-C (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Elk Creek Leasing
The flight
- Departed from: SMF Sacramento CA
- Destination: RDD Redding CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 3 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 20,000 ft
- Temperature: 55°F (13°C), dew point 46°F (8°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
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.