Navion A accident near Big Bear, California, June 23, 1990
On June 23, 1990 at about 8:20 pm local time, a Navion A, registered N8081E, was substantially damaged in an accident near Big Bear, California (Big Bear airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO ADEQUATELY COMPENSATE FOR THE CROSS WIND ON HIS APPROACH.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 23, 1990 · about 8:20 pm local time
- Place
- Big Bear, California · Big Bear · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Navion A
- Registration
- N8081E · registry record · serial NAV-4-1753
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
ACCORDING TO WITNESSES, THE AIRCRAFT WAS MAKING AN APPROACH TO RUNWAY 25 AND APPEARED TO BE VERY LOW. THE WITNESSES OBSERVED THE AIRCRAFT 'POP UP AND OVER SOME TREES AT THE END OF THE RUNWAY' THEN BEGIN TO SETTLE INTO THE FLARE OVER THE RUNWAY. THE WITNESSES REPORTED THAT THE AIRCRAFT SUDDENLY BEGAN VEERING OFF THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE RUNWAY. THE AIRCRAFT COLLIDED WITH THE AIRPORT WIND 'T', SEVERAL OTHER FACILITIES AND FOUR PARKED AIRCRAFT BEFORE COMING TO A STOP IN AN AIRCRAFT PARKING AREA. THE WITNESSESS REPORTED THAT THE SURFACE WINDS CLOSE TO THE RUNWAY CONSISTED OF A LEFT CROSS WIND OF ABOUT 13 KNOTS.
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: 354 hours in all; 247 in this make and model; 42 in the last 90 days; 28 in the last 30 days; 330 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,750 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental E-225-4 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: LGB Long Beach CA at 7:15 pm
- Destination: L35
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 25, 5,850 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 200° at 13 knots
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
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 N8081E 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.