Beech E33 accident near Avalon, California, February 16, 1993
On February 16, 1993 at about 3:45 am local time, a Beech E33, registered N7882R, 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
THE PILOT'S ALCOHOLIC IMPAIRMENT OF EFFICIENCY AND JUDGEMENT WHICH RESULTED IN HIS ATTEMPT TO PERFORM AEROBATICS AT NIGHT IN HILLY TERRAIN AT AN ALTITUDE INADEQUATE FOR TERRAIN CLEARANCE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 16, 1993 · about 3:45 am local time
- Place
- Avalon, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech E33 · all E33s on the register
- Registration
- N7882R · no longer on the register · serial CD-1208
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
A WITNESS SAID THAT HE HEARD THE ENGINE 'REVVING AND PULLING UP REAL HARD.' HE RAN OUT ON HIS PORCH AND OBSERVED THE AIRPLANE 'GOING STRAIGHT UP AND DID A LOOP.' THE AIRPLANE CAME BACK DOWN, AND AGAIN WENT STRAIGHT UP IN THE SKY. HE NOTICED THAT THE LANDING LIGHTS 'HIT THE CLOUD DECK.' ANOTHER WITNESS STATED THAT HE COULD SEE THE SILHOUETTES OF ALL THE MOUNTAIN TOPS IN THE AREA BY NATURAL LIGHT. THE PILOT DID NOT HAVE A CURRENT MEDICAL OR BIENNIAL FLIGHT REVIEW. THE PILOT'S TOXICOLOGICAL RESULTS WERE POSITIVE; 73 MG/DL OF ETHANOL DETECTED IN THE LIVER, AND 180 MG/DL OF ETHANOL DETECTED IN THE KIDNEY. A BROKEN 1/2 GAL PLASTIC BOTTLE OF WHISKEY WAS FOUND IN THE MAIN WRECKAGE. THE PILOT'S DRIVER'S LICENSE HAD BEEN SUSPENDED TWICE IN 1992 FOR EXCESSIVE ALCOHOL LEVELS.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,500 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (expired)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 3, 1990
- Maximum gross weight: 3,050 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-470-N (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: LGB Long Beach CA at 11:22 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 120° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 2,200 ft; not recorded at 2,200 ft
- Temperature: 50°F (10°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.