Beech 33 accident near Gorman, California, December 27, 1989
On December 27, 1989 at about 7:00 pm local time, a Beech 33, registered N875R, was substantially damaged in an accident near Gorman, California (Quail Lake airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries; 3 others were unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE MALFUNCTIONING PROPELLER GOVERNOR, AND THE PILOT'S MISJUDGEMENT OF ALTITUDE AND DISTANCE OF THE APPROACH PATH DURING AN EMERGENCY LANDING. FACTORS CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: THE POWER LINES ACROSS THE APPROACH PATH TO THE RUNWAY AND THE SURROUNDING TERRAIN CONDITIONS.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 27, 1989 · about 7:00 pm local time
- Place
- Gorman, California · Quail Lake · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries; 3 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech 33
- Registration
- N875R · registry record · serial CD-31
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING CRUISE FLIGHT AT 7,500 FT THE PILOT NOTICED THE RPM FLUCTUATING 50-100 RPM. THE PROP THEN STARTED CYCLING 'WILDLY'. THE PILOT WAS ABLE TO STABILIZE THE CYCLING BY THROTTLING BACK, AND ELECTED TO GLIDE TO AN AIRPORT. POWER LINES WERE OBSERVED ACROSS THE APPROACH TO RWY 26. THE AIRCRAFT LANDED SHORT ON TOP OF A HILL AND ROLLED INTO A RAVINE. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT THE PROP GOVERNOR HAD 235 HRS SINCE OVERHAUL.
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: 560 hours in all; 92 in this make and model; 13 in the last 90 days; 8 in the last 30 days; 504 as pilot in command; 56 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,974 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 1, 1989; 100 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,900 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-470-J (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 068 Mariposa CA at 5:45 pm
- Destination: MYF San Diego CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 26, 3,180 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 220° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 45°F (7°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 3 |
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.