Beech 76 accident near Mount Shasta, California, September 17, 1992
On September 17, 1992 at about 1:00 am local time, a Beech 76, registered N5269M, was destroyed in an accident near Mount Shasta, California. It was an other work-use 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 IMPROPER EN ROUTE DECISION TO ALTER HIS COURSE AND TO PROCEED OVER A MOUNTAINOUS AREA WITH INADEQUATE ALTITUDE TO CLEAR THE RISING TERRAIN.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 17, 1992 · about 1:00 am local time
- Place
- Mount Shasta, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech 76 · all 76s on the register
- Registration
- N5269M · no longer on the register · serial ME 22
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Other work-use flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT, WHO HELD A FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR CERTIFICATE, AND THE PASSENGER, WHO HELD A PRIVATE PILOT CERTIFICATE, TOOK OFF AND INITIALLY FLEW TOWARD THEIR SOUTHERLY DESTINATION ON AN INSTRUMENT FLIGHT PLAN. THE PASSENGER WAS EMPLOYED BY A TELEVISION STATION WHICH HAD HIRED THE PILOT TO FLY HIM TO SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA FOR A PHOTO ASSIGNMENT. IT WAS A CLEAR DAY, AND WHILE EN ROUTE THE PILOT CANCELLED HIS FLIGHT PLAN. THEREAFTER, ALL FAA SERVICES WERE TERMINATED. THE PILOT HAD INDICATED THAT DURING THE FLIGHT HE PLANNED TO FLY VIA VICTOR AIRWAY 23. THE AIRPLANE PROCEEDED ABOUT 23 NM EAST OF COURSE AND APPROACHED MOUNT SHASTA, ELEVATION 14,162 FEET MSL. WITNESSES, WHO WERE LOCATED AT ABOUT THE 6,700 FOOT LEVEL ON THE SIDE OF THE MOUNTAIN, OBSERVED THE AIRPLANE FLYING WITHIN ABOUT 40 FEET OF THE TOPS OF TREES AND TOWARD RISING TERRAIN. THE AIRPLANE APPEARED TO REVERSE ITS COURSE AND THEN DESCEND INTO THE 7600 TO 7800 FT MSL TERRAIN WHEREUPON A FIRE IMMEDIATELY STARTED. NO MECHANICAL MALFUNCTIONS WERE FOUND WITH THE AIRPLANE.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 782 hours in all; 61 in this make and model; 216 in the last 90 days; 133 in the last 30 days; 712 as pilot in command; 197 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,136 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 22, 1992; 97 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,900 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A1G6D (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
- Operator: Willamette Aviation, INC.
The flight
- Departed from: 3S2 Aurora OR at 11:26 pm
- Destination: SCK Stockton CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 37°F (3°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
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.