Big Bear Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

San Gorgonio Mo, California 92339
Monday, February 23, 1998 11:00 PST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The airplane collided with mountainous terrain about 11.3 nautical miles south-southeast of the departure airport. The departure airport's automated weather observation system was reporting skies clear to 12,000 feet above ground level (agl), with winds from 220 degrees at 14 knots gusting to 26 knots at the estimated time of departure. The pilot received a weather briefing 1 hour 46 minutes prior to departure. He was informed that the winds at 9,000 feet mean sea level (msl) over the area were 210 degrees at 50 knots, and that conditions would get worse by 1100. The briefing also contained AIRMETS for mountain obscuration, moderate turbulence, and moderate rime and mixed icing above the freezing level. The accident site elevation was approximately 10,300 feet msl. The airplane approached the accident site on a heading of approximately 240 degrees. This would have placed the airplane on the lee side of a high ridgeline with winds exceeding 50 knots. There was a valley extending towards the southwest directly in front of and 90 degrees to the ridgeline on which the airplane crashed. This valley may have produced a funneling effect, which would have significantly accelerated the wind flow over the ridge. Satellite imagery of the site at the time of the accident showed high clouds above the mountains. The cloud tops were estimated to be 13,000 feet. Additionally, rotor clouds could be seen southwest of the crash site. Studies have shown that severe turbulence, wind shear, and downdrafts are commonly found on the downwind side of high mountainous terrain when high wind conditions exist. The maximum climb rate for the airplane at 9,000 feet under static conditions was calculated to be 900 feet per minute. No preimpact mechanical malfunctions were found during examination of the wreckage.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's inability to maintain altitude due to an encounter with adverse winds and downdrafts on the lee side of a mountain. Also causal was the pilot's inadequate weather evaluation, which precipitated his intentional flight into an area of known adverse weather in high mountainous terrain. Factors include terrain induced turbulence and downdrafts as a result of high wind conditions.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 2/23/1998
Event Day of the Week Monday
Time of Event 1100
Event Time Zone Pacific Standard Time
Event City SAN GORGONIO MO
Event State CALIFORNIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 92339
Event Date Year 1998
Event Date Month 2
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude --
Event Location Longitude --
Event Location Airport BIG BEAR
Event Location Nearest Airport ID L35
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 11
Degrees magnetic from airport 154
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness Full
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1000 Pacific Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 154
Weather Observation Facility ID L35
Elevation of weather observation facility 6748
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 11
Time Zone of the weather observation PST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 6
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 1
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 220
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 14
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 26
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29
Density Altitude (feet) 7000
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Fatal
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal 2
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 2
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1983
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Feb 25 1998 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 436
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Aug 13 2001 11:11AM
User who most recently changed record MONR
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N3103W
NTSB Number LAX98FA095
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Destroyed
Aircraft Fire Ground
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Beech
Aircraft Model A36
Aircraft Series Identifier A36
Aircraft Serial Number E-495
Certified Max Gross Weight 3600
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 6
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Feb 15 1998 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name H. CLAY REAVIS, JR.
Aircraft Owner Street Address
Aircraft Owner City NEWPORT BEACH
Aircraft Owner State CA
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 92660
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name HOWARD R. BURCHILL
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address
Operator City SAN DIEGO
Operator State CA
Operator Country
Operator Zip code
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code L35
Departure City BIG BEAR CITY
Departure State CA
Departure Country
Departure Time 1000
Departure Time Zone PST
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code CRQ
Destination City CARLSBAD
Destination State CA
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Cruise
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record May 19 2001 4:08AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 0
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --