Beech C35 accident near Independence, California, October 13, 1990
On October 13, 1990 at about 9:30 pm local time, a Beech C35, registered N789D, was substantially damaged in an accident near Independence, California. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO ATTAIN AN ALTITUDE ADEQUATE TO AVOID COLLIDING WITH OJBECTS DURING TAKEOFF.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 13, 1990 · about 9:30 pm local time
- Place
- Independence, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech C35 · all C35s on the register
- Registration
- N789D · registry record
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT REPORTED TO MAINTENANCE PERSONNEL AT BISHOP AIRPORT THAT THE AIRPLANE HAD COLLIDED WITH A ROCK WHEN HE DEPARTED A PRIVATELY OWNED AIRSTRIP NEAR INDEPENDENCE, CA. MAINTENANCE PERSONNEL REPORTED FINDING THE AIRPLANE'S FORWARD WING SPAR SEPARATED FROM ITS RESPECTIVE WING-TO-FUSELAGE ATTACHMENT FITTING. THE SAFETY BOARD HAS NOT RECEIVED THE REQUIRED PILOT/OPERATOR AIRCRAFT ACCIDENT REPORT, NTSB FORM 6120.1 FROM THE PILOT.
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
- 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: 2,700 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental O-470 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: BIH Bishop CA
- Flight plan: not recorded
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.