Beech D17S accident near Bishop, California, August 8, 1992
On August 8, 1992 at about 4:30 pm local time, a Beech D17S, registered N92SL, was substantially damaged in an accident near Bishop, California (Bishop 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 FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL; IMPROPER USE OF THE RUDDER AND EXCESSIVE BRAKING. CONTRIBUTING TO THIS ACCIDENT WAS THE PILOT'S LACK OF EXPERIENCE IN THE ACCIDENT AIRPLANE MAKE AND MODEL.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 8, 1992 · about 4:30 pm local time
- Place
- Bishop, California · Bishop · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech D17S · all D17Ss on the register
- Registration
- N92SL · registry record · serial 01640
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE AIRPLANE RETURNED TO THE DEPARTURE AIRPORT AFTER COMPLETING A LOCAL VISUAL FLIGHT RULES PERSONAL FLIGHT AND WAS PRACTICING TAKEOFFS AND LANDINGS ON RUNWAY 30. ON THE THIRD LANDING ROLL-OUT THE PILOT FAILED TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL AND USED EXCESSIVE BRAKING CAUSING THE AIRPLANE TO NOSE OVER ONTO ITS BACK. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT THERE WERE NO PREEXISTING AIRPLANE MECHANICAL MALFUNCTIONS AND/OR FAILURES. THE PILOT ACCRUED ONLY 5 HOURS IN THE ACCIDENT AIRPLANE MAKE AND MODEL AND THAT THE ACCIDENT FLIGHT WAS THE FIRST TIME HE FLEW THE AIRPLANE MAKE AND MODEL WITHIN THE PRECEDING 90 DAYS. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT THE SURFACE WINDS WERE FROM 300 DEGREES BETWEEN 0 AND 5 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; single-engine sea
- Flight time: 842 hours in all; 5 in this make and model; 24 in the last 90 days; 21 in the last 30 days; 837 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,922 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 1, 1992; 6 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,250 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: P&W R-985-AN3 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 3, 5,600 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 300° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.