Beech F35 accident near Lake Berryessa, California, October 26, 1989
On October 26, 1989 at about 10:23 pm local time, a Beech F35, registered N5034B, was destroyed in an accident near Lake Berryessa, 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
INADEQUATE VISUAL LOOKOUT BY THE PILOT AND HIS FAILURE TO MAINTAIN PROPER ALTITUDE. THE POWER LINES WAS A RELATED FACTOR.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 26, 1989 · about 10:23 pm local time
- Place
- Lake Berryessa, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech F35 · all F35s on the register
- Registration
- N5034B · registry record · serial D-4301
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT AND PASSENGER PLANNED A 40 NM PLEASURE FLIGHT TO A NEIGHBORING AIRPORT FOR LUNCH. ON THE RETURN FLIGHT, THE PILOT FLEW LOW OVER LAKE BERRYESSA. WHILE CROSSING THE LAKE, THE AIRCRAFT COLLIDED WITH TWO TRANSMISSION WIRES THAT SPANNED THE LAKE, THEN CRASHED. THE LINES WERE ABOUT 125 AND 135 FT AGL AND WERE DEPICTED ON THE SECTIONAL AERONAUTICAL CHART.
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: 2,400 hours in all; 400 in this make and model; 2,340 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 6, 1989; 142 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,750 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental E-225-8 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 045 Vacaville CA
- Destination: STS Sonama County CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 240° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 25 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 25,000 ft; scat at 2,000 ft
- Temperature: 66°F (19°C), dew point 48°F (9°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 9:55 pm from SUU, 19 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.