Beech A-23 accident near Willows, California, June 16, 1992
On June 16, 1992 at about 10:15 pm local time, a Beech A-23, registered N1482L, was substantially damaged in an accident near Willows, California (Willows-Glenn County 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
THE PILOT'S POORLY PLANNED APPROACH. CONTRIBUTING TO THIS ACCIDENT WAS THE PILOT MISJUDGED THE FLARE ALTITUDE AND FAILED TO MAINTAIN THE PROPER AIRSPEED.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 16, 1992 · about 10:15 pm local time
- Place
- Willows, California · Willows-Glenn County
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech A-23 · all A-23s on the register
- Registration
- N1482L · no longer on the register · serial M882
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT WAS COMPLETING A LOCAL VISUAL FLIGHT RULES PERSONAL FLIGHT. THE PILOT MISJUDGED THE ALTITUDE AND FAILED TO MAINTAIN THE PROPER AIRSPEED DURING THE FLARE AND THE AIRPLANE STALLED AND SLAMMED INTO THE GROUND. THE AIRPLANE BOUNCED ONCE AND SLID OFF THE RUNWAY. ACCORDING TO THE PILOT THE PREVAILING SURFACE WINDS WERE OUT OF THE SOUTH/SOUTHEAST AT 5 KNOTS GUSTING TO 7 KNOTS.
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
- Flight time: 618 hours in all; 262 in this make and model; 15 in the last 90 days; 6 in the last 30 days; 618 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,674 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 19, 1991; 29 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,350 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental IO-346-A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: O68 Mariposa CA
- Destination: WLW Willows CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 16, 4,500 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 210° at 5 knots, gusting 7
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 0°F (-18°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.