Beech B35 accident near San Diego, California, August 20, 1989
On August 20, 1989 at about 6:05 pm local time, a Beech B35, registered N8868A, was substantially damaged in an accident near San Diego, California (Montgomery airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
LOSS OF ENGINE POWER FOR UNDETERMINED REASONS. FACTORS THAT RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: UNAVALIABLE ALTITUDE, REMEDIAL ACTION NOT POSSIBLE, UNSUITABLE TERRAIN, HIGH VEGETATION, AND THE TREES.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 20, 1989 · about 6:05 pm local time
- Place
- San Diego, California · Montgomery · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech B35 · all B35s on the register
- Registration
- N8868A · no longer on the register · serial D-2523
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
A BEECH B35 COLLIDED WITH TREES DURING A FORCED LANDING, AFTER THE INITIAL TAKEOFF CLIMB. THE PILOT STATED HE LOST POWER AT ABOUT 100 TO 150 FEET AGL. HE MANEUVERED THE AIRPLANE TOWARDS AN OPEN AREA. THE AIRCRAFT STRUCK A TREE VEERED SIDEWAYS, LANDED HARD AND SLID TO A STOP. THE AIRCRAFT WAS SERVICED WITH AUTOMOTIVE FUEL UNDER AN APPROVED SUPPLEMENTAL TYPE CERTIFICATE. A POST ACCIDENT ENGINE EXAM REVEALED NO DAMAGE TO THE POWER PLANT. THE ENGINE WAS TESTED USING FUEL FROM ITS WING TANKS, THE ENGINE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. THE PILOT STATED HE FELT HE COULD HAVE STARTED THE ENGINE IF HE HAD MORE ALTITUDE.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,581 hours in all; 388 in this make and model; 27 in the last 90 days; 8 in the last 30 days; 1,424 as pilot in command; 222 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,561 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 11, 1988; 167 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,650 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental E-225-8 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: MYF San Diego CA
- Destination: GEU Glendale AZ
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 28L, 3,399 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: overcast; clear
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 5:46 pm from MYF, 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.