Beech 65-90 accident near San Diego, California, November 6, 1994
On November 6, 1994 at about 10:09 pm local time, a Beech 65-90, registered N276VM, was substantially damaged in an accident near San Diego, California. It was an other work-use flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured; 13 others were unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the inadvertent and premature deployment of the jumper's reserve parachute as he exited the aircraft.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 6, 1994 · about 10:09 pm local time
- Place
- San Diego, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured; 13 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech 65-90 · all 65-90s on the register
- Registration
- N276VM · no longer on the register · serial LJ-81
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Other work-use flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE AIRCRAFT WAS DAMAGED WHEN A SPORT PARACHUTIST COLLIDED WITH THE HORIZONTAL STABILIZER WHILE EXITING THE AIRCRAFT AT 13,000 FEET MSL. ACCORDING TO STATEMENTS FROM THE PILOTS AND OTHER JUMPERS ON BOARD THE AIRCRAFT, THE INJURED JUMPER'S RESERVE PARACHUTE DEPLOYED AS HE EXITED THE DOOR. THE PARACHUTE MOMENTARILY DRAPED OVER THE LEFT LEADING EDGE OF THE HORIZONTAL STABILIZER, THEN AS THE CANOPY DEPLOYED, THE JUMPER WAS PULLED OVER THE HORIZONTAL STABILIZER.
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
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,232 hours in all; 510 in this make and model; 174 in the last 90 days; 54 in the last 30 days; 2,141 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 7,819 hours
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme, September 27, 1994; 33 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 9,300 lb
- Seats: 15
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: P&W PT6A-20 (turboprop); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SDM at 9:50 pm
- Destination: SDM CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 45°F (7°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 11 |
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 N276VM 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.