Beech A35 accident near Tulare, California, January 21, 1993
On January 21, 1993 at about 2:05 am local time, a Beech A35, registered N595B, was destroyed in an accident near Tulare, California. It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE INSTALLATION OF AN UNAPPROVED WING TIP FUEL TANK SYSTEM; AN INADEQUATE ANNUAL INSPECTION WHICH DID NOT NOTE, OR CORRECT, THE UNAPPROVED FUEL SYSTEM ADDITION; A WING TANK FUEL SELECTOR VALVE INSTALLATION WITHOUT ADEQUATE PLACARDS TO SHOW POSITION OR OPERATION; AND INCORRECT INSTRUCTIONS TO THE PILOTS BY THE OWNER AND MECHANIC ON POSITIONING FUEL SELECTOR VALVES WHICH LED TO INADVERTENT MISPOSITIONING BY THE PILOTS AND SUBSEQUENT FUEL STARVATION. IN ADDITION, THE PILOT AT THE CONTROLS FAILED TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE AIRSPEED FOLLOWING THE POWER LOSS WHICH RESULTED IN AN INADVERTENT STALL/SPIN. A FACTOR WHICH CONTRIBUTED TO THE LOSS OF CONTROL WAS THE DARK NIGHT LIGHT CONDITION.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 21, 1993 · about 2:05 am local time
- Place
- Tulare, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech A35 · all A35s on the register
- Registration
- N595B · registry record · serial D-1616
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE CFI IN THE RIGHT SEAT WAS GIVING DUAL TO THE LEFT SEAT CFI, WHO HAD NO EXPERIENCE IN TYPE. DURING THE INITIAL CLIMB, AT ABOUT 400-500 FT AGL, WITNESSES HEARD THE ENGINE LOSE POWER OR SURGE. THE AIRPLANE WAS SEEN TO ROLL TO ONE SIDE AND DESCEND STEEPLY TO IMPACT. THE AIRPLANE HAD BEEN EXTENSIVELY MODIFIED WITH AN UNAPPROVED WING TIP FUEL TANK SYSTEM ADDITION. THE FUEL SELECTOR VALVE FOR THE TIP TANKS DID NOT HAVE ANY PLACARDS SHOWING POSITION OR OPERATION. BOTH CFI'S HAD BEEN GIVEN INCORRECT INSTRUCTIONS ON HOW TO POSITION THE FUEL SYSTEM SELECTOR VALVES BY THE OWNER AND A MECHANIC WHO SIGNED OFF THE ANNUAL INSPECTION. POST-CRASH EXAMINATION REVEALED THAT THE STANDARD FACTORY FUEL SELECTOR WAS IN THE AUX POSITION, AND THE TIP TANKS FUEL SELECTOR VALVE WAS IN A HALF-ON/HALF-OFF POSITION. THE AIRPLANE ALSO HAD A POWERPLANT MODIFICATION FOR INCREASED HORSEPOWER AND OTHER AIRFRAME MODIFICATIONS, NOT ALL OF WHICH WERE DOCUMENTED OR APPROVED. THIS WAS THE FIRST FLIGHT SINCE THE ANNUAL INSPECTION.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 7,100 hours in all; 44 in this make and model; 117 in the last 90 days; 34 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,950 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 29, 1992; 1 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,650 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental E-225-8 (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 57°F (14°C), dew point 48°F (9°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 1:55 am from VIS, 11 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 |
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.