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 October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 28, 2012 · about 9:30 pm local time
- Place
- Torrance, California · Zamperini Field · 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
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.