Beech 35-33 accident near Paso Robles, California, June 8, 1990
On June 8, 1990 at about 11:00 pm local time, a Beech 35-33, registered N996T, was destroyed in an accident near Paso Robles, California. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
UNDETERMINED.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 8, 1990 · about 11:00 pm local time
- Place
- Paso Robles, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech 35-33 · all 35-33s on the register
- Registration
- N996T · registry record · serial CD-194
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT RECEIVED A PRELFIGHT WEATHER BRIEFING WHICH INCLUDED A FORECAST FOR VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS ALONG THE PROPOSED ROUTE OF FLIGHT. HE TOOK OFF ON A CROSS-COUNTRY FLIGHT UNDER VISUAL FLIGHT RULES WITHOUT FILING A FLIGHT PLAN. ABOUT 1-1/2 HRS AFTER THE PLANE TOOK OFF, A RANCHER FOUND ITS WRECKAGE BURNING IN AN OUTLYING/LEVEL PASTURE, AFTER A NEIGHBOR ADVISED HIM OF SMOKE EMANATING FROM THE PASTURE. THE AIRCRAFT IMPACTED THE GROUND IN AN UPRIGHT ATTITUDE WITH THE FLAPS AND LANDING GEAR RETRACTED. THE WRECKAGE BOUNCED, SLID AND TUMBLED ABOUT 447 FEET BEFORE COMING TO REST. IMPACT OCCURRED IN A DIRECTION THAT WAS PERPENDICULAR TO THE ROUTE OF FLIGHT. NO PREIMPACT PART FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION OF THE AIRCRAFT WAS FOUND. THE OWNER SAID THE PILOT HAD OVERSTRESSED THE AIRCRAFT ON A PREVIOUS FLIGHT, BUT NO RELATIONSHIP WAS VERIFIED BETWEEN THAT EVENT AND 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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,300 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,650 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-470-J (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
- Operator: Alameda Flying Club
The flight
- Departed from: OAK Oakland CA at 8:30 pm
- Destination: CMA Camarillo CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.
Other NTSB records under N996T the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.