Beech A36 - UNDESIGNAT accident near San Carlos, California, July 30, 2014
On July 30, 2014 at about 9:20 pm local time, a 1977 Beech A36 - UNDESIGNAT, registered N17856, was substantially damaged in an accident during taxi near San Carlos, California (San Carlos Airport). 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.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 30, 2014 · about 9:20 pm local time
- Place
- San Carlos, California · San Carlos Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech A36 - UNDESIGNAT UNDESIGNAT, built 1977 · all A36 - UNDESIGNATs on the register
- Registration
- N17856 · no longer on the register · serial E1047
- 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 after landing and after turning left onto the taxiway, "the engine slowed." He then added power to keep the airplane turning to the left, but experienced very little braking on the left brake. The pilot stated he believed that at about this time he may have gotten the heal of his left foot over the right rudder pedal, which rendered his attempt to turn [left] being unsuccessful. Subsequently, the right wing of his airplane contacted the right wing of a parked airplane, which was facing the opposite direction. The right wing was substantially damaged. A postaccident examination of the airplane's left brake 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 defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during taxi
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 25,000 hours in all; 1,320 in this make and model; 3 in the last 90 days; 3 in the last 30 days; 15,000 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: August 9, 2013
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,238 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 2, 2013; 21 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,600 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO550B 12B (piston); 857 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 1O2 Lakeport CA at 8:40 pm
- Destination: SQL San Carlos CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 30, 2,600 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 010° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 20,000 ft
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 59°F (15°C)
- Altimeter: 29.96 inHg
- Observation at 9:51 pm from SQL
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
4 documents, released by the NTSB on September 23, 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's Report | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Pilot Statement | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 4 | Photo 1 - Left Wing (Photo Courtesy of FAA) | 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.
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.