Beech 77 accident near Salinas, California, August 13, 1994
On August 13, 1994 at about 8:16 pm local time, a Beech 77, registered N6702Y, was substantially damaged in an accident near Salinas, California (Salinas airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the pilot's failure to raise the flaps prior to takeoff, and subsequent loss of directional control. A lack of total experience was a factor.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 13, 1994 · about 8:16 pm local time
- Place
- Salinas, California · Salinas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech 77 · all 77s on the register
- Registration
- N6702Y · no longer on the register · serial WA43
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE STUDENT PILOT WAS PRACTICING LANDINGS ON HIS SECOND SOLO FLIGHT. HIS INTENTION WAS TO MAKE THREE FULL STOP LANDINGS, TAXIING BACK FOR EACH TAKEOFF. DURING PREPARATION FOR THE THIRD SOLO TAKEOFF THE PILOT DID NOT RAISE THE FLAPS. DURING THE TAKEOFF THE AIRPLANE DRIFTED TO THE LEFT HIT A RUNWAY SIGN AND CONTINUED INTO THE GRASSY AREA BESIDE THE RUNWAY WHERE THE WING WAS DAMAGED.
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: student
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 23 hours in all; 23 in this make and model; 23 in the last 90 days; 19 in the last 30 days; 1 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,751 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, July 25, 1994; 17 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,168 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-L2C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SNS at 8:00 pm
- Destination: SNS CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 31, 4,825 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 300° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 77°F (25°C), dew point 54°F (12°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 8:23 pm from SNS
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.
Other NTSB records under N6702Y the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.