Beech 77 accident near Taft, California, June 8, 1990
On June 8, 1990, a Beech 77, registered N6629D, was substantially damaged in an accident near Taft, California (Taft airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S IMPROPER REMEDIAL ACTION. RELATED TO THIS ACCIDENT WAS THE PILOT'S INADVERTENT ENCOUNTER WITH UNFAVORABLE WINDS.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 8, 1990
- Place
- Taft, California · Taft · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech 77 · all 77s on the register
- Registration
- N6629D · no longer on the register · serial WA-28
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE STUDENT PILOT WAS PRACTICING TAKEOFFS AND LANDINGS ON RUNWAY 25 AT TAFT MUNI ARPT. WHILE ON FINAL APPROACH DURING THE SECOND LANDING THE PILOT ENCOUNTERED A DUST DEVIL. HE DELAYED THE GO-AROUND UNTIL THE AIRPLANE WAS LOW TO THE GROUND AND HALFWAY DOWN THE RUNWAY. WHEN THE PILOT APPLIED FULL POWER THE AIRPLANE DID NOT IMMEDIATELY RESPOND AND HE PULLED THE NOSE UP, LOST DIRECTIONAL CONTROL AND STALLED. THE PILOT FAILED TO RAISE THE LANDING FLAPS DURING THE ATTEMPTED GO-AROUND. THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH THE FENCE NORTH OF THE AIRPORT.
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: student
- Flight time: 16 hours in all; 16 in this make and model; 16 in the last 90 days; 11 in the last 30 days; 4 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: 1,675 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-L2C (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Coyote Aviation, INC.
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 25, 3,970 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 310° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 35 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 88°F (31°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.