Beech A36 accident near Avalon, California, May 2, 1992
On May 2, 1992 at about 11:23 pm local time, a Beech A36, registered N583T, was destroyed in an accident near Avalon, California. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A LOSS OF CONTROL DUE TO PILOT INCAPACITATION FOR AN UNDETERMINED REASON(S).
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 2, 1992 · about 11:23 pm local time
- Place
- Avalon, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech A36 · all A36s on the register
- Registration
- N583T · no longer on the register · serial E-1020
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
FLIGHT WAS RECEIVING VFR FLIGHT FOLLOWING THRU THE LOS ANGELES TCA. AT ABOUT 1620, FLIGHT WAS HANDED OFF TO ANOTHER SECTOR CONTROLLER AND GIVEN A FREQ CHANGE. THE PILOT ACKNOWLEDGED. HE DID NOT CONTACT THE NEW SECTOR CONTROLLER, AND NO FURTHER RADIO COMMUNICATIONS WERE NOTED. RECORDED RADAR DATA SHOWS THAT THE AIRCRAFT MAINTAINED A STRAIGHT GROUND TRACK AT 5,500 FT DURING THE HANDOFF AND FREQ CHANGE ASSIGNMENT. AT 1622:37, THE ALTITUDE CHANGED TO 5,300 FT. DURING THE NEXT 18 SECONDS THE ALTITUDE DECREASED TO 3,100 FT AT AN AVERAGE RATE OF DESCENT OF ABOUT 7,000 FPM. THE LAST RECORDED RADAR POSITION IS OVER THE PACIFIC OCEAN MID CHANNEL BETWEEN THE MAINLAND AND CATALINA ISLAND. THERE WERE NO KNOWN MAINTENANCE DISCREPANCIES AGAINST THE AIRCRAFT, AND THE AIRCRAFT IS ESTIMATED TO HAVE HAD ABOUT 34 GALS OF FUEL ON BOARD. THE PILOT HAD BEEN INVOLVED IN AN AUTOMOBILE ACCIDENT 1 WEEK EARLIER; HE HAD REPORTEDLY FELL ASLEEP WHILE DRIVING. HE ALSO REPORTEDLY HAD 'VERY BAD BRUISES ON HIS BODY IN THE AREA OF THE SEAT BELT AND SHOULDER HARNESS.'
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: 2,700 hours in all; 2,500 in this make and model; 80 in the last 90 days; 20 in the last 30 days; 2,600 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (expired)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,635 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 4, 1992; 30 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,600 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-520-BA (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: PRB Paso Robles CA at 11:10 pm
- Destination: MYF San Diego CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 200° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 54°F (12°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:46 pm from SNA, 11 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.