Beech 36TC accident near Sedona, Arizona, November 3, 1992
On November 3, 1992 at about 8:00 pm local time, a Beech 36TC, registered N67434, was destroyed in an accident near Sedona, Arizona (Sedona airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S POORLY PLANNED APPROACH AND DELAY IN EXECUTING THE APPROPRIATE REMEDIAL ACTION. CONTRIBUTING TO THIS ACCIDENT WAS THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN THE PROPER GLIDEPATH AND ENCOUNTERING A DOWNDRAFT.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 3, 1992 · about 8:00 pm local time
- Place
- Sedona, Arizona · Sedona · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech 36TC · all 36TCs on the register
- Registration
- N67434 · no longer on the register · serial EA384
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE FLIGHT ENCOUNTERED FORECASTED TURBULENCE WHILE ON FINAL APPROACH TO RUNWAY 03. A PASSENGER REPORTED THE PILOT FLEW A LOW FINAL APPROACH. THE AIRCRAFT ENCOUNTERED A DOWNDRAFT. THE PILOT EXECUTED A GO AROUND, BUT WITHOUT SUCCESS. REALIZING THAT THE AIRPLANE WAS NOT CLIMBING AND WAS UNABLE TO MAKE THE RUNWAY THE PILOT ELECTED TO LAND ON THE LOWER TERRAIN TO THE LEFT OF THE AIRPORT. THE AIRPLANE CRASHED ABOUT 150 FEET SHORT OF THE RUNWAY AND ABOUT 500 FEET TO THE WEST (LEFT) OF ITS EXTENDED CENTERLINE. AIRPORT PERSONNEL PROVIDED THE PILOT WITH AN AIRPORT ADVISORY WHICH INCLUDED THAT THE SURFACE WINDS WERE FROM THE NORTHWEST BETWEEN 25 AND 40 KNOTS. THE AIRPORT FACILITY DIRECTORY STATES IN THE SEDONA AIRPORT REMARKS SECTION, IN PART, '...TURBULENCE MAY BE EXPERIENCED IN VICINITY OF THE AIRPORT...'
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: 1,250 hours in all; 1,155 in this make and model; 16 in the last 90 days; 6 in the last 30 days; 1,207 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,700 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 1, 1990; 150 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,984 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental TSIO-520-UB (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SNA Santa Ana CA at 5:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 3, 5,131 ft by 75 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 330° at 25 knots, gusting 40
- Visibility: 70 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
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.