Beech C-23 accident near Fullerton, California, February 22, 1992
On February 22, 1992 at about 11:00 pm local time, a Beech C-23, registered N2169W, was substantially damaged in an accident near Fullerton, California (Fullerton airport). 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
WAS THE PILOT'S POORLY PLANNED APPROACH. CONTRIBUTING TO THIS ACCIDENT WAS THE PREVAILING HAZE/SMOKE, THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO ATTAIN A PROPER GLIDEPATH, PROPER TOUCH DOWN POINT AND EXCESSIVE FINAL APPROACH AIRSPEED.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 22, 1992 · about 11:00 pm local time
- Place
- Fullerton, California · Fullerton
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech C-23 · all C-23s on the register
- Registration
- N2169W · registry record · serial M1570
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
AFTER ENTERING THE DOWNWIND LEG FOR RUNWAY 24, THE LOCAL CONTROLLER INSTRUCTED THE FLIGHT TO EXTEND THE DOWNWIND LEG. THREE MINUTES LATER, WHEN THE AIRPLANE WAS ABOUT 4 MILES EAST OF THE AIRPORT, THE LOCAL CONTROLLER CLEARED THE FLIGHT TO TURN BASE FOLLOWED BY A CLEARANCE TO LAND. THE PREVAILING VISIBILITY WAS ABOUT 4 MILES WITH HAZE. THE PILOT WAS UNABLE TO SEE THE AIRPORT BECAUSE OF THE SUN GLARE MIXED WITH THE HAZE AND USED THE LOCALIZER FOR GUIDANCE TO THE AIRPORT. THE PILOT MAINTAINED THE BASE LEG ALTITUDE UNTIL HE COULD READILY IDENTIFY THE RUNWAY WHICH HE DID WHEN THE AIRPLANE WAS ABOUT A MILE EAST OF THE AIRPORT. THE PILOT IMMEDIATELY BEGAN THE DESCENT, BUT WHEN HE FLARED THE AIRPLANE FOR LANDING IT BEGAN TO FLOAT. THE AIRPLANE TOUCHED DOWN BEYOND MIDFIELD, BOUNCED THREE TIMES AND THE PILOT APPLIED HARD BRAKING. THE AIRPLANE SWERVED TO THE RIGHT, EXITED THE RUNWAY, AND COLLIDED WITH THE FENCE THAT TRAVERSES NORTH AND SOUTH AT THE AIRPORT BOUNDARY.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 969 hours in all; 500 in this make and model; 7 in the last 90 days; 3 in the last 30 days; 900 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,476 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 7, 1992; 6 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,540 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A4J (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: RAL Riverside CA at 10:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 24, 3,121 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 4 statute miles
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 57°F (14°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.