Beech D-35 accident near Alpine, California, August 27, 1993
On August 27, 1993 at about 7:45 pm local time, a Beech D-35, registered N2988B, was destroyed in an accident near Alpine, California (On The Rocks Airstrip airport). It was a personal 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 FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN DIRECTION CONTROL DURING THE INITIAL TAKEOFF CLIMB WHICH PLACED AN OBSTRUCTION IN THE AIRPLANE'S TAKEOFF FLIGHT PATH AND A SUBSEQUENT INADVERTENT STALL. A FACTOR IN THE ACCIDENT WAS THE EXISTING CROSSWIND.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 27, 1993 · about 7:45 pm local time
- Place
- Alpine, California · On The Rocks Airstrip
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech D-35 · all D-35s on the register
- Registration
- N2988B · registry record · serial D3626
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT TOOK OFF FROM A DIRT STRIP WITH A CROSSWIND. THE AIRPLANE DRIFTED LATERALLY OFF THE STRIP IN AN OPEN AREA. THE AIRPLANE'S TAKEOFF PATH WAS OBSTRUCTED BY A TREE. THE PILOT INADVERTENTLY STALLED THE AIRPLANE AND ONE WING DROPPED AND STRUCK THE GROUND. THE AIRPLANE CAME TO REST UPRIGHT AND WAS DESTROYED BY A POST-CRASH FIRE.
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: 2,300 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 8,313 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 9, 1993; 25 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,725 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental E-185-8 (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Destination: SDM San Diego CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 36, 2,500 ft by 80 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 280° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 8:50 pm from SEE, 13 miles away
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.