Beech B23 accident near Modesto, California, August 9, 1996
On August 9, 1996 at about 8:05 pm local time, a Beech B23, registered N6087N, was destroyed in an accident near Modesto, California (Modesto City airport). It was a flight of an unrecorded kind 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
fuel starvation due to the pilot's inadequate fuel management and failure to reposition the fuel selector to a tank containing adequate fuel. The power lines were a factor.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 9, 1996 · about 8:05 pm local time
- Place
- Modesto, California · Modesto City · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech B23 · all B23s on the register
- Registration
- N6087N · no longer on the register · serial M-1179
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that the two 28.8 gallon capacity fuel tanks were both full upon takeoff for her participation in the Palms-to-Pines air race. After flying for 2:10 hours the pilot arrived at Modesto, and she made a low pass over the field for timing purposes. During the go-around, all engine power was suddenly lost and the pilot attempted to land on a street. On approach, the airplane collided with power lines. The airplane impacted the street, and a fuel-fed fire erupted as the airplane slid to a stop. The pilot reported that she anticipated the fuel burn off rate during the flight was about 11.9 gallons per hour. She did not recall switching fuel tanks during the flight. No mechanical malfunctions were found during the postimpact engine examination.
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: 338 hours in all; 243 in this make and model; 15 in the last 90 days; 9 in the last 30 days; 267 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,302 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 20, 1996; 7 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,450 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A2G (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: SMO Santa Monica CA at 6:50 pm
- Destination: MOD
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 28R, 5,911 ft by 150 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 3,200 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 99°F (37°C), dew point 61°F (16°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 9:03 pm from MOD, 1 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.