Beech V35B accident near Livermore, California, December 25, 2022
On December 25, 2022, a 1977 Beech V35B, registered N65Y, was substantially damaged in an accident during initial climb near Livermore, California (Livermore Municipal Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s inadvertent use of the mixture control instead of the throttle, which resulted in fuel starvation and the subsequent loss of engine power.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 25, 2022
- Place
- Livermore, California · Livermore Municipal Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech V35B, built 1977 · all V35Bs on the register
- Registration
- N65Y · registry record · serial D-10080
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot planned on remaining in the traffic pattern for night flight. Shortly after takeoff, while on the upwind leg of the traffic pattern, the cabin door opened; the pilot stated that he slowed the airplane by using the throttle. He added that it was dark and that he could not see the instruments, but he could see the engine control knobs. The pilot realized the airplane was descending toward a building when he heard the tower controller say “climb, climb, climb.” The pilot then “pushed the throttle in.” The airplane continued to descend and impacted a building. Additionally, the pilot added that due to the dark conditions, he may have mistakenly pulled the mixture control knob to slow the airplane down instead of using the throttle. Postaccident examination of the airframe and engine revealed no evidence of mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. Continuity of the throttle, propeller, and mixture controls was established from the cockpit to their respective control arms. Examination of the throttle revealed the throttle knob was about 1 inch from full forward, the mixture control was about 2 inches from full forward, and the propeller controller lever was about ½ inch from full forward. The pilot likely inadvertently manipulated the mixture to a lean position instead of the pulling back on the throttle, which resulted in the reduction of engine 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
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during takeoff
- Fuel starvation during initial climb defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Use of equip/system › Pilot
- Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Engine controls › Mixture control › Unintentional use/operation
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Medical certificate: BasicMed
- Seat: left
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental Motors IO-520-BA (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 7L, 5,253 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: dusk
- Wind: from 080° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 54°F (12°C), dew point 45°F (7°C)
- Altimeter: 30.34 inHg
Weather report (METAR): METAR KLVK 250053Z 08008KT 10SM HZ CLR 12/07 A3034 RMK AO2 SLP273 T01220072=
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flig | 1 |
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number WPR23LA077.