Beech A23-19 accident near Apple Valley, California, April 27, 1990
On April 27, 1990 at about 11:40 pm local time, a Beech A23-19, registered N5664S, was destroyed in an accident near Apple Valley, California. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
FUEL CONTAMINATION AND THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN AIRSPEED WHILE MANEUVERING.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 27, 1990 · about 11:40 pm local time
- Place
- Apple Valley, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech A23-19 · all A23-19s on the register
- Registration
- N5664S · no longer on the register · serial MB-94
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE AIRCRAFT EXPERIENCED A LOSS OF POWER DURING THE TAKEOFF INITIAL CLIMB AND CRASHED WHILE ATTEMPTING A RETURN TO AIRPORT MANEUVER. FAA INSPECTORS EXAMINED THE AIRCRAFT AND ENGINE. NO DISCREPANCIES WERE FOUND WITH THE ENGINE. THE RIGHT FUEL CAP WAS FOUND TO HAVE A BADLY DETERIORATED 'O' RING, AND WATER WAS FOUND IN THE RIGHT FUEL TANK. THE FUEL SELECTOR WAS FOUND POSITIONED TO THE RIGHT TANK. WITNESSES ON THE AIRPORT REPORTED THAT THE PILOT WASHED THE AIRCRAFT BEFORE THE FLIGHT.
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: 285 hours in all; 285 in this make and model; 5 in the last 90 days; 5 in the last 30 days; 212 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,200 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E2C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: APV at 11:35 pm
- Destination: DAG Barstow CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 18
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 200° at 30 knots
- 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.
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.