Beech G35 accident near Oceano, California, August 31, 2012
On August 31, 2012 at about 6:40 pm local time, a Beech G35, registered N4454D, was substantially damaged in an accident during enroute (descent) near Oceano, California (Oceano County airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s exceedance of the design maneuvering speed during descent in turbulence, which resulted in structural damage to the aft fuselage.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 31, 2012 · about 6:40 pm local time
- Place
- Oceano, California · Oceano County · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech G35 · all G35s on the register
- Registration
- N4454D · no longer on the register · serial D-4598
- 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, while the airplane was descending to land at an indicated airspeed of about 180 mph, it encountered turbulence for about 2 seconds. The pilot immediately reduced power and slowed the airplane to about 140 mph. The pilot continued the approach and landed the airplane without further incident. After landing, the pilot observed deformities along the fuselage. A postaccident examination of the airplane revealed structural twisting damage to the aft fuselage, consistent with an overload failure in a tail downward direction. According to the airplane manufacturer, the damage was also consistent with damage seen on other airplanes of the same make and model that had encountered turbulence while descending at speeds higher than the airplane's design maneuvering speed. A review of the Pilot's Operating Handbook showed that the airplane's reported airspeed of 180 mph at the time it encountered the turbulence was within the caution operating range of 176 to 202 mph and was higher than the design maneuvering speed. It is likely that the pilot's exceedance of the design maneuvering speed while the airplane was descending in turbulence resulted in the structural damage to the aft fuselage.
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
- Clear air turbulence encounter during enroute (descent) defining event
- Aircraft structural failure
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Airspeed › Incorrect use/operation
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Incorrect action performance › Pilot
- cause Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Turbulence › Clear air turbulence › Effect on equipment
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 3,150 hours in all; 221 in this make and model; 42 in the last 90 days
- Last flight review: May 25, 2012
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,857 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 5, 2011; 97 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,775 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Cont Motor E225 -8 (piston); 5,857 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: TLR Tulare CA at 6:00 pm
- Destination: L52 Oceano CA
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 260° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 52°F (11°C)
- Altimeter: 29.95 inHg
- Observation at 6:56 pm from SBP
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.