Beech B36TC accident near Corona, California, January 22, 2020
On January 22, 2020 at about 8:11 pm local time, a 1983 Beech B36TC, registered N36TT, was destroyed in an accident during takeoff near Corona, California (Corona Municipal Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 4 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilots’ failure to abort the takeoff, which resulted in a collision with a fence at the end of the runway. Contributing to the accident was the airplane being at or over the maximum gross takeoff weight and the inappropriate elevator trim tab setting.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 12, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 22, 2020 · about 8:11 pm local time · cases in 2020
- Place
- Corona, California · Corona Municipal Airport · cases near this airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 4 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech B36TC, built 1983 · all B36TCs on the register
- Registration
- N36TT · no longer on the register · serial EA-350
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airplane, with two pilots and two passengers onboard, had landed at the airport to refuel, and 78.06 gallons of fuel were added. The airplane departed with a 5-knot tailwind down a 3,200 ft asphalt runway. According to a witness at the airport, the nose raised off the runway surface prematurely during the takeoff roll. Although the investigation could not determine which pilot was at the controls, neither pilot elected to abort the landing and the airplane bounced down the runway unable to become airborne. The airplane continued to accelerate and reached rotation speed as it collided into a fence at the end of the runway. Onsite examination revealed the elevator trim tabs were in the full-down position (full nose-up trim). It is likely the elevator trim was mistakenly set at full nose-up trim, which enabled the nose to rise off the runway surface prematurely during the takeoff roll. As the airspeed increased, the force required to push the nose down would have become greater. The right-seated pilot owned the airplane and the left-seated pilot had flown with him before. A review of the left-seated pilot’s personal notebook revealed that he had flown 3.7 hours in the accident airplane and therefore, likely had limited familiarity with it. Although the airplane was likely at or over the maximum gross weight based on the amount of fuel added to the airplane, the airplane’s performance charts indicate that the runway length was sufficient at the airplane’s maximum gross takeoff weight to complete a takeoff. Both pilots had ample opportunity to abort the takeoff when they realized the airplane was not becoming airborne but continued with the takeoff attempt.
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
- Runway excursion during takeoff defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Flight control system › Elevator tab control system › Incorrect use/operation other cases naming the flight controls
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Aircraft capability › Maximum weight › Not specified
- Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Decision making/judgment › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 4,800 hours in all
- Medical certificate: BasicMed
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: fatal
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 1,700 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,513 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 18, 2019
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental Motors TSIO-520-UB (piston); 2,513 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: AJO Corona CA at 8:10 pm
- Destination: TOA Torrance CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 07, 3,200 ft by 60 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 250° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 50°F (10°C)
- Altimeter: 30.14 inHg
- Observation at 8:15 pm
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
7 documents, released by the NTSB on December 1, 2021. 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 | Video Study | PDF, 5 pages · our copy | View Download |
| 2 | Examination Notes | PDF, 19 pages · our copy | View Download |
| 3 | Records of Conversation | PDF, 7 pages · our copy | View Download |
| 4 | Excerpts of Records and Weight and Balance | PDF, 2 pages · our copy | View Download |
| 5 | Autopsy Memo | PDF, 1 page · our copy | View Download |
| 6 | Statement of Party Representatives to NTSB Investigation | PDF, 2 pages · our copy | View Download |
| 7 | Release of Aircraft Wreckage, NTSB Form 6120.15 | PDF, 1 page · our copy | View Download |
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N36TT: not on the register today · the record of its deregistration
- Beechcraft B36 Bonanza 308 registered today · the model family and its accident history
- Beechcraft 6 aircraft on the register
- Engine: Continental Motors TSIO-520-UB 27 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Corona Municipal · nearest airport
- Zamperini Field · bound for
- Accidents and incidents in California 9,069 since 1982 · 1,087 in the last ten years
- California 27,686 aircraft registered
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/WPR20FA072.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.
