Beech C23 accident near Corona, California, November 8, 1997
On November 8, 1997 at about 1:30 am local time, a Beech C23, registered N3724Z, was substantially damaged in an accident near Corona, California (Corona Municipal airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The loss of engine power for undetermined reasons. A factor was the rough terrain that resulted in a nose over during the landing roll.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 8, 1997 · about 1:30 am local time
- Place
- Corona, California · Corona Municipal
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech C23 · all C23s on the register
- Registration
- N3724Z · no longer on the register · serial M-2281
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that he had full fuel onboard. About 1 hour into the flight, the pilot descended and switched the fuel selector to the right tank. The engine ran rough and was 'hesitant.' When he switched back to the left tank, the engine ran normally. He elected to make a precautionary landing at a nearby airport. During his descent he switched back to the right tank and the engine ran rough again. He was not able to receive a traffic advisory and was unable to see the windsock. On final approach he realized he had a tail wind and was too high and fast. He initiated a go-around but the engine was sluggish and the airplane would not climb. The pilot headed for an open field to make an off-airport emergency landing and the engine quit. The airplane brushed the tops of some trees and touched down in the field. The nose gear struck a rock during the landing roll and the nose gear collapsed. The engine was test run following recovery and operated for about 5 minutes through the full range of operation with and without the electric fuel pump, on both fuel tanks. About 5.6 gallons of fuel were drained from the left tank and 17.9 gallons were drained from the right tank. No debris, water, or restrictions were noted in the fuel lines, carburetor bowl, or fuel strainer.
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: 176 hours in all; 37 in this make and model; 16 in the last 90 days; 16 in the last 30 days; 125 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,667 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, September 4, 1997; 60 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,455 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360 (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Air Accord
The flight
- Departed from: BFL Bakersfield CA
- Destination: SEE San Diego CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 7, 3,200 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: dusk
- Wind: from 220° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 5,000 ft
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
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 N3724Z 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.