Raytheon Aircraft Company G36 accident near Porterville, California, November 27, 2008
On November 27, 2008 at about 5:25 pm local time, a Raytheon Aircraft Company G36, registered N936EW, was substantially damaged in an accident during approach (IFR missed approach) near Porterville, California (Porterville Municipal Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A loss of engine power for undetermined reasons.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 27, 2008 · about 5:25 pm local time
- Place
- Porterville, California · Porterville Municipal Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Raytheon Aircraft Company G36
- Registration
- N936EW · no longer on the register · serial E-3645
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
During an instrument approach in instrument meteorological conditions, the flight entered the ground fog layer at 1,300 feet mean sea level (msl) and continued descending to the minimum descent altitude of 980 feet msl. Upon reaching the minimum descent altitude, the pilot asked his passengers if "they saw anything." The pilot stated that he "saw a few breaks." As the airplane neared the missed approach point, the pilot further reported that he declared a missed approach and applied full power. He stated that the engine did not respond and made an unusual sound "like a car would make if its automatic transmission would not grab." The pilot added that he was not getting power and briefed his passengers to brace themselves. Shortly thereafter, the airplane struck trees and the ground within an orange orchard. Both wings and the fuselage were substantially damaged. Examination of the airframe, engine, and propeller assemblies revealed no related preimpact mechanical anomalies.
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
What happened, in order
- Loss of engine power (total) during approach (IFR missed approach) defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during emergency descent
The NTSB's findings
- cause Not determined › Not determined › (general) › (general) › Unknown/Not determined
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,215 hours in all; 2,136 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 390 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 10, 2008
- Maximum gross weight: 3,663 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Teledyne Continental Motors IO-550-B (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Redlands CA at 4:26 pm
- Destination: PTV Porterville CA
- Flight plan: IFR
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 300° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 0 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 200 ft
- Temperature: 54°F (12°C), dew point 54°F (12°C)
- Altimeter: 30.09 inHg
- Observation at 5:35 pm from PTV, 1 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 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.