Beech 76 accident near San Carlos, California, December 2, 2011
On December 2, 2011 at about 10:25 pm local time, a Beech 76, registered N23852, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near San Carlos, California (San Carlos Airport). It was an instructional 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
The collapse of the right main landing gear during the turn off the runway due to the failure of the A-frame assembly.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 2, 2011 · about 10:25 pm local time · cases in 2011
- Place
- San Carlos, California · San Carlos Airport · cases near this airport · 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
- N23852 · no longer on the register · serial ME-15
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that shortly after takeoff, the tower controller notified him that the right main landing gear did not appear to fully retract. The pilot did a low fly-by over the runway, and the tower controller reported that all three landing gear appeared to be fully extended. The pilot then departed the area to another airport. While on approach for landing, the pilot selected the gear down. The left and nose landing gear indication lights illuminated; however, the right did not. The pilot tested the light bulb and performed an emergency gear extension that was unsuccessful. During a low approach, tower personnel reported that the landing gear appeared to be in the down position. The pilot was subsequently cleared to land, and during the landing roll, everything appeared normal except the right gear light was still not on. The pilot reported that after touchdown he cautiously slowed the airplane to almost a complete stop before turning off the runway. During the turn, the right main landing gear collapsed. A postaccident visual examination of the gear revealed that the A-frame assembly failed in what appeared to be in overload at the top/forward attach point.
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
- Sys/Comp malf/fail (non-power) during takeoff
- Landing gear collapse during landing (landing roll) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Landing gear system › Gear extension and retract sys › Malfunction other cases naming the landing gear
Flight instructor
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,130 hours in all; 140 in this make and model; 152 in the last 90 days; 61 in the last 30 days; 1,040 as pilot in command; 705 on instruments
- Last flight review: April 28, 2011
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
Dual student
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 298 hours in all; 44 in this make and model; 12 in the last 90 days; 2 in the last 30 days; 136 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: June 8, 2011
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 9,102 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, October 24, 2011; 25 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,916 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: Lycoming O&VO-360 SER (piston); 0 hours total
- Engine 2: Lycoming O&VO-360 SER (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Bel-Air International
The flight
- Departed from: LVK Livermore CA at 10:10 pm
- Destination: SQL San Carlos CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 30, 2,600 ft by 75 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 310° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: scat
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 25°F (-4°C)
- Altimeter: 29.95 inHg
- Observation at 10:50 pm from KSQL
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
4 documents, released by the NTSB on January 25, 2013. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 8 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Photo 1 - Airplane as It Came to Rest on the Runway | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Photo 2 - Damage to the Right Wing | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 4 | Record of Conversation- FAA Iic | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N23852: not on the register today · the record of its deregistration
- Beechcraft 76 Duchess 151 registered today · the model family and its accident history
- Beechcraft 6 aircraft on the register
- Engine: Lycoming O&VO-360 SER · as the NTSB recorded it
- Engine: Lycoming O&VO-360 SER · as the NTSB recorded it
- San Carlos Airport · nearest airport
- Livermore Municipal · departed from
- Accidents and incidents in California 9,080 since 1982 · 1,097 in the last ten years
- California 27,897 aircraft registered
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/WPR12LA052.json.
The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.
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 does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.