Beech V35A accident near Torrance, California, September 28, 2012
On September 28, 2012 at about 9:30 pm local time, a Beech V35A, registered N6278V, was substantially damaged in an accident during taxi (from runway) near Torrance, California (Zamperini Field). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during taxi, which resulted in a collision with a parked vehicle.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 28, 2012 · about 9:30 pm local time · cases in 2012
- Place
- Torrance, California · Zamperini Field · cases near this airport · map
- Type
- Accident · collision on the ground
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech V35A · all V35As on the register
- Registration
- N6278V · registry record · serial D-8602
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot landed the airplane and received a clearance to taxi to his hangar. During taxi, he attempted to make a left turn and found that, despite applying full left pedal, the airplane would not turn. The airplane veered off the taxiway surface and continued onto the main ramp area. The pilot could not stop the airplane before its left wing collided with a parked vehicle located on the ramp. A postaccident examination of the wreckage revealed no evidence of mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation.
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 control on ground during taxi (from runway) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Ground vehicle › Contributed to outcome
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 3,470 hours in all; 460 in this make and model; 40 in the last 90 days; 18 in the last 30 days; 3,050 as pilot in command; 1,668 on instruments
- Last flight review: April 16, 2012
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,823 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 26, 2012; 2 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,400 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Cont Motor IO-520-B2A (piston); 873 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: EMT El Monte CA at 9:00 pm
- Destination: TOA Torrance CA
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 260° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 20,000 ft; scat at 9,000 ft
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
- Altimeter: 29.90 inHg
- Observation at 9:47 pm from TOA
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
3 documents, released by the NTSB on May 22, 2014. 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, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | FAA Inspector Statement | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Mechanic Statement | 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
- N6278V on the register today · the tail number may have moved to another aircraft since
- Beechcraft V35 Bonanza 1,661 registered today · the model family and its accident history
- Beechcraft 6 aircraft on the register
- Engine: Cont Motor IO-520-B2A 9,485 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Zamperini Field · nearest airport
- San Gabriel Valley Airport · departed from
- Accidents and incidents in California 9,080 since 1982 · 1,098 in the last ten years
- California 27,686 aircraft registered
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/WPR12LA443.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.