Beech 35-B33 accident near Lone Pine, California, July 28, 2013
On July 28, 2013 at about 10:16 pm local time, a Beech 35-B33, registered N82182, was substantially damaged in an accident during initial climb near Lone Pine, California (Lone Pine airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 4 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A partial loss of engine power after takeoff for reasons that could not be determined because postaccident examination did not reveal any anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's decision to not execute the "Engine Failure After Liftoff" emergency procedures outlined in the Pilot’s Operating Handbook.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 28, 2013 · about 10:16 pm local time
- Place
- Lone Pine, California · Lone Pine · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 4 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech 35-B33 · all 35-B33s on the register
- Registration
- N82182 · no longer on the register · serial CD-536
- 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 he performed a full preflight and engine run-up before departure. He leaned the fuel mixture for takeoff, and the auxiliary fuel pump switch was in the "off" position. After takeoff, at 300 ft above ground level, the pilot noticed that the airplane was not climbing normally and had entered a slight descent. The engine then began to sputter. The pilot stated that he did not have time to execute the "Engine Failure After Liftoff" procedures outlined in the Pilot's Operating Handbook. He performed a gear-up, forced landing straight ahead onto flat, desert terrain. After the airplane stopped, the pilot noticed a fire emanating from the left wing. The three passengers egressed through the right cabin door, and the pilot followed. The fire spread and subsequently engulfed most of the airplane's cabin before firefighters arrived and put it out. A postaccident examination of the fuel system and engine did not reveal any mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. It is likely that, if the pilot had executed the applicable emergency procedures, the engine might have regained power.
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 (partial) during initial climb defining event
- Off-field or emergency landing during emergency descent
The NTSB's findings
- cause Not determined › Not determined › (general) › (general) › Unknown/Not determined
- factor Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Lack of action › Pilot
- factor Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Decision making/judgment › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 296 hours in all; 100 in this make and model; 53 in the last 90 days; 17 in the last 30 days
- Last flight review: September 16, 2012
- Medical certificate: Class 3
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,184.5 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 21, 2013
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Cont Motor IO-470-N11B (piston); 6,146 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: KO26 Lone Pine CA at 10:15 pm
- Destination: KAJO Corona CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 16, 3,991 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 170° at 19 knots, gusting 26
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 11,000 ft; a few clouds at 7,500 ft
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 46°F (8°C)
- Altimeter: 29.90 inHg
- Observation at 10:40 pm from KBIH, 49 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
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.
Other NTSB records under N82182 the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.