Beech A-36 accident near Firebaugh, California, September 25, 1993
On September 25, 1993 at about 9:30 pm local time, a Beech A-36, registered N7246Z, was substantially damaged in an accident near Firebaugh, California (Firebaugh airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the CFI's inadequate supervision of the flight and his delay in taking remedial action; the dual student's premature liftoff and improper use of the flight controls. The high vegetation and soft terrain were factors in this accident.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 25, 1993 · about 9:30 pm local time
- Place
- Firebaugh, California · Firebaugh · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech A-36 · all A-36s on the register
- Registration
- N7246Z · registry record · serial 2266
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PRIVATE PILOT/OWNER WAS TAKING PART IN A FLIGHT PROFICIENCY CLINIC. AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT, THE PILOT WAS RECEIVING DUAL INSTRUCTION FROM A CERTIFIED FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR. AFTER LANDING AT THE AIRPORT AND WHILE TAXIING BACK TO THE LANDING RUNWAY THRESHOLD, THE CFI INSTRUCTED THE PILOT TO EXECUTE A SOFT FIELD TAKEOFF. THE PILOT DOES NOT HAVE ANY INDEPENDENT RECOLLECTION IF HE HAD RETRIMMED THE AIRPLANE BUT PROCEEDED TO EXECUTE THE SOFT FIELD TAKEOFF. ON LIFT-OFF THE AIRPLANE'S STALL WARNING ACTIVATED AND THE AIRPLANE BEGAN TO SETTLE. THE CFI ASSUMED THE FLIGHT CONTROLS. THE AIRPLANE STRUCK THE GROUND AND EXITED THE RUNWAY. THE NOSE GEAR BECAME ENTANGLED WITH THE 3 - 4 FT HIGH WEEDS ADJACENT TO THE RUNWAY.
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: airline transport pilot, flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 231 hours in all; 140 in this make and model; 30 in the last 90 days; 12 in the last 30 days; 160 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 515 hours
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme, November 1, 1992; 515 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,600 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-550 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 99°F (37°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.