Beech S35 accident near Long Beach, California, April 24, 1992
On April 24, 1992 at about 4:21 pm local time, a Beech S35, registered N123JH, was destroyed in an accident near Long Beach, California (Daugherty Field). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN AN AIRSPEED ABOVE THE AIRPLANE'S STALL SPEED (VS) AND INADVERTENT ENTRY INTO A SPIN. THE ENGINE FAILURE RESULTING FROM CONTAMINATED FUEL AND INADEQUATE PREFLIGHTS WERE FACTORS IN THE ACCIDENT.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 24, 1992 · about 4:21 pm local time
- Place
- Long Beach, California · Daugherty Field · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech S35 · all S35s on the register
- Registration
- N123JH · registry record · serial D-7477
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE AIRCRAFT'S ENGINE FAILED DURING THE INITIAL TAKEOFF CLIMB PHASE OF FLIGHT AND THE AIRCRAFT STALLED, ENTERED A SPIN AND COLLIDED WITH THE GROUND. AN EXAMINATION OF THE AIRCRAFT'S ENGINE AND FUEL SYSTEM DISCLOSED CONTAMINANTS (CORROSION) IN THE FUEL PUMP, FUEL FLOW DIVIDER, AND FUEL INJECTOR NOZZLES. THE WAS NO EVIDENCE OF OTHER PREEXISTING FAILURES OR MALFUNCTIONS THAT WOULD HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO THE PROPULSION SYSTEM FAILURE OR THE ACCIDENT.
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: instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,136 hours in all; 344 in this make and model; 14 in the last 90 days; 3 in the last 30 days; 1,893 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,375 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 30, 1991; 83 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-520 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: LGB at 4:21 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 25, 5,420 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 340° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 25,000 ft
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 52°F (11°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 4:23 pm from LGB, 1 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.
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, the folder of records gathered during the investigation, shown as the NTSB released them (the NTSB redacts some personal details first) and listed under the NTSB's own titles. This site's own text never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number LAX92FA185.