Beech BE-77 accident near Carmel Valley, California, March 2, 1991
On March 2, 1991 at about 8:56 pm local time, a Beech BE-77, registered N3846X, was destroyed in an accident near Carmel Valley, California. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE FAILURE OF THE PIC TO SUPERVISE A NON-CERTIFICATED PILOT AND TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE AIRSPEED WITH SUBSEQUENT COLLISION WITH TREES. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE FAILURE OF THE PIC TO OBTAIN A WEATHER BRIEFING AND ASSESS HAZARDOUS WIND CONDITIONS AND OVERCONFIDENCE IN THE PILOT'S ABILITY TO DEAL WITH THE WEATHER AND AIRPLANE PERFORMANCE ISSUES.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 2, 1991 · about 8:56 pm local time
- Place
- Carmel Valley, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech BE-77
- Registration
- N3846X · no longer on the register · serial WA-243
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE CERTIFICATED COMMERCIAL PILOT AND A NON-CERTIFICATED PASSENGER, BOTH CO-OWNERS OF THE AIRPLANE, DEPARTED THE AIRPORT WITH THE PASSENGER AT THE CONTROLS. AFTER TAKEOFF, THE AIRPLANE ENCOUNTERED TURBULENCE, GUSTY WINDS AND WIND SHEAR AND WAS UNABLE TO CLIMB OVER ABOUT 300 FEET ABOVE GROUND LEVEL. THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND TOOK OVER THE CONTROLS AND BEGAN MANEUVERING THE AIRPLANE TO AVOID RISING TERRAIN AND ATTEMPTED TO GAIN OROGRAPHIC LIFT FROM SURROUNDING HILLS. WITH THE STALL WARNING SOUNDING, THE AIRPLANE STRUCK A TREE ON A RIDGE LINE ABOUT 1 MILE FROM THE AIRPORT. THE AIRPLANE THEN DESCENDED THROUGH SEVERAL OTHER TREES AND WAS DESTROYED. A SIGMET WAS IN EFFECT FOR LOW LEVEL WIND SHEAR.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 5,661 hours in all; 51 in this make and model; 19 in the last 90 days; 4 in the last 30 days; 3,200 as pilot in command; 1,517 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,445 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 10, 1990; 92 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,675 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-L2C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 062 Carmel Valley CA at 8:53 pm
- Destination: SNS Salinas CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 10,000 ft; scat at 5,000 ft
- Temperature: 66°F (19°C), dew point 43°F (6°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 8:46 pm from MRY, 9 miles away
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.