Socata TB-10 accident near Big Bear, California, August 23, 1992
On August 23, 1992, a Socata TB-10, registered N20BN, was destroyed in an accident near Big Bear, California. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 4 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOTS DECISION TO ATTEMPT CROSSING A RIDGE LINE AT AN ALTITUDE INSUFFICIENT TO ALLOW FOR CONTINGENCY ACTIONS IN THE EVENT OF AN ENCOUNTER WITH DOWN DRAFTS OR TURBULENCE. FACTORS IN THE ACCIDENT WERE THE HIGH DENSITY ALTITUDE AND THE FLIGHT'S ENCOUNTER WITH A DOWN DRAFT.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 23, 1992
- Place
- Big Bear, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 4 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Socata TB-10 · all TB-10s on the register
- Registration
- N20BN · registry record · serial 494
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
IN HIS WRITTEN STATEMENT THE PILOT SAID THAT AFTER DEPARTURE ON RUNWAY 25 HE TURNED IN A SOUTHWEST DIRECTION TO CROSS A RIDGE LINE AT AN ALTITUDE OF ABOUT 7,900 FEET MSL. HE SAID THAT NEAR THE RIDGE LINE THEY ENCOUNTERED A SUDDEN DOWN DRAFT AND HE COULD NOT ARREST THE DESCENT PRIOR TO COLLIDING WITH TREES. AN EYE WITNESS TO THE CRASH SAID THE AIRCRAFT NEVER ACHIEVED MORE THAN ABOUT 300 FEET AGL AT ANY TIME AFTER TAKEOFF. THE WITNESS OBSERVED THE AIRCRAFT IN A NOSE HIGH ATTITUDE BEGIN A RIGHT TURN, THEN IT DESCENDED BELOW THE TOPS OF SOME TREES AND OUT OF VIEW. TWO OTHER WITNESSES REPORTED HEARING THE SOUNDS OF A LOUD AND STRONG ENGINE UNTIL THE SOUNDS OF TREE IMPACTS WERE HEARD. THE AIRPORT IS IN A MOUNTAIN VALLEY AT AN ELEVATION OF 6,750 FEET. MOUNTAIN RIDGES AND PEAKS RISE AN AVERAGE OF 2,000 FEET ABOVE THE VALLEY FLOOR ON ALL SIDES OF THE AIRPORT. THE AIRPORT IS AT THE EAST END OF THE VALLEY AND A LARGE LAKE. A DAM IS AT THE WEST END OF THE VALLEY AT A 'V' NOTCH IN THE SURROUNDING MOUNTAINS. WEST OF THE DAM THE TERRAIN DROPS OFF RAPIDLY TO THE GREATER LOS ANGELES BASIN. THE DENSITY ALTITUDE WAS CALCULATED TO BE ABOUT 9,400 FEET. OTHER PILOTS WHO DEPARTED FROM THE AIRPORT REPORTED THAT TURBULENCE EXISTED OVER THE VALLEY NEAR THE SURROUNDING RIDGES.
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: 213 hours in all; 50 in this make and model; 15 in the last 90 days; 12 in the last 30 days; 151 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,336 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 8, 1992; 39 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,535 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A1AD (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: General Aviation Company
The flight
- Departed from: L35 at 11:50 pm
- Destination: FUL Fullerton CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 250° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
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 docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site 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 LAX92LA360.