Beech 76 accident near Portland, Oregon, August 9, 1993
On August 9, 1993 at about 3:25 am local time, a Beech 76, registered N3692X, was substantially damaged in an accident near Portland, Oregon (Portland International airport). It was a personal flight 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
JAMMING OF THE NOSE LANDING GEAR ASSEMBLY AND THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND NOT MAINTAINING THE PROPER GLIDEPATH DURING THE NOSE GEAR UP LANDING.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 9, 1993 · about 3:25 am local time
- Place
- Portland, Oregon · Portland International · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech 76 · all 76s on the register
- Registration
- N3692X · registry record · serial ME-369
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
UPON ARRIVAL AT VICTORIA, BRITISH COLUMBIA, THE PILOT WAS UNABLE TO EXTEND THE NOSE LANDING GEAR. HE DIVERTED TO PORTLAND INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT WHERE NOSE GEAR EXTENSION WAS AGAIN UNSUCCESSFUL. THE PILOT EXECUTED A NOSE GEAR UP LANDING AND SHUT DOWN BOTH ENGINES PRIOR TO TOUCHDOWN. THE AIRCRAFT LANDED HARD IN THE GRASS SHORT OF RUNWAY 28R. EXAMINATION OF THE LANDING GEAR SYSTEM REVEALED NO MALFUNCTION WITH EITHER THE NOSE GEAR ACTUATOR OR HYDRAULIC SYSTEM. A TIRE IMPRINT ON THE INSIDE LEFT NOSE GEAR DOOR AND PAINT OBSERVED ABRADED FROM THE BOTTOM EDGE OF THE GEAR DOOR FORK, INDICATED OVERCENTER JAMMING OF THE GEAR WITH THE HINGE PIN SEAT ALONG THE BOTTOM EDGE OF THE FORK.
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: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,420 hours in all; 721 in this make and model; 39 in the last 90 days; 39 in the last 30 days; 1,347 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,300 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 17, 1993; 39 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,900 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A1G6D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: CYXY Whitehorse at 6:00 pm
- Destination: CYYJ Victoria
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 28R, 8,000 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 250° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 40 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 2,000 ft
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 3:30 am from PDX, 1 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 |
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.