Beech A36 accident near San Gorgonio Mo, California, February 23, 1998
On February 23, 1998 at about 7:00 pm local time, a Beech A36, registered N3103W, was destroyed in an accident near San Gorgonio Mo, California (Big Bear airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's inability to maintain altitude due to an encounter with adverse winds and downdrafts on the lee side of a mountain. Also causal was the pilot's inadequate weather evaluation, which precipitated his intentional flight into an area of known adverse weather in high mountainous terrain. Factors include terrain induced turbulence and downdrafts as a result of high wind conditions.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 23, 1998 · about 7:00 pm local time
- Place
- San Gorgonio Mo, California · Big Bear · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech A36 · all A36s on the register
- Registration
- N3103W · no longer on the register · serial E-495
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airplane collided with mountainous terrain about 11.3 nautical miles south-southeast of the departure airport. The departure airport's automated weather observation system was reporting skies clear to 12,000 feet above ground level (agl), with winds from 220 degrees at 14 knots gusting to 26 knots at the estimated time of departure. The pilot received a weather briefing 1 hour 46 minutes prior to departure. He was informed that the winds at 9,000 feet mean sea level (msl) over the area were 210 degrees at 50 knots, and that conditions would get worse by 1100. The briefing also contained AIRMETS for mountain obscuration, moderate turbulence, and moderate rime and mixed icing above the freezing level. The accident site elevation was approximately 10,300 feet msl. The airplane approached the accident site on a heading of approximately 240 degrees. This would have placed the airplane on the lee side of a high ridgeline with winds exceeding 50 knots. There was a valley extending towards the southwest directly in front of and 90 degrees to the ridgeline on which the airplane crashed. This valley may have produced a funneling effect, which would have significantly accelerated the wind flow over the ridge. Satellite imagery of the site at the time of the accident showed high clouds above the mountains. The cloud tops were estimated to be 13,000 feet. Additionally, rotor clouds could be seen southwest of the crash site. Studies have shown that severe turbulence, wind shear, and downdrafts are commonly found on the downwind side of high mountainous terrain when high wind conditions exist. The maximum climb rate for the airplane at 9,000 feet under static conditions was calculated to be 900 feet per minute. No preimpact mechanical malfunctions were found during examination of the wreckage.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 4,200 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 15, 1998
- Maximum gross weight: 3,600 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-550-B4F (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: L35 Big Bear City CA at 6:00 pm
- Destination: CRQ Carlsbad CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 220° at 14 knots, gusting 26
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 43°F (6°C), dew point 34°F (1°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:00 pm from L35, 11 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.