Big Bear City Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Big Bear City, California 92314
Saturday, April 6, 2013 10:35 PDT

On April 6, 2013, about 1035 Pacific daylight time, a Beech A36TC airplane, N36SG, was substantially damaged during a forced landing in Big Bear Lake, Big Bear City, California. The pilot received serious injuries, and his three passengers received minor injuries. The personal flight was conducted under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the accident location. The airplane had departed on an instrument flight rules (IFR) flight plan from McClellan-Palomar Airport (CRQ), Carlsbad, California, and was destined for Big Bear City Airport (L35). According to the pilot, his passengers include his niece, her husband, and their 5-year-old son. En route, the pilot cancelled his IFR flight plan, and continued, using flight following services from SoCal Approach. The pilot planned to follow his normal route, which included a slow let down to L35 after passing ARRAN intersection. Shortly after the airplane passed ARRAN, at an estimated altitude of between 9,500 and 9,000 feet, the airplane experienced a "very sudden" onset, high-frequency vibration. The pilot reduced the power setting, and notified the air traffic controller of an engine problem. Initially the manifold pressure gauge provided very erratic indications, but the pilot was unable to discern whether this was a valid indication, or the instrument responding to the vibration. The airplane began to descend, and the pilot adjusted the engine controls to yield normal manifold pressure and rpm cruise values. However, the airplane did not respond commensurately with the indicated power setting, and continued its descent. When the airplane was approximately abeam the "observatory" (a visual landmark) at an altitude of about 6,900 feet, the pilot switched to the airport advisory frequency, and notified them of his engine problem. The pilot observed a causeway that crossed the lake between his position and the airport, and began a turn to his right (south) to avoid the causeway. At some point, the pilot recognized and broadcast that he was unable to make the airport, and planned to land in a field west of the airport. The pilot banked to the right to turn for the field, but the right wingtip contacted the lake. The airplane "flipped," and came to rest inverted in water about 1 to 3 feet deep. The impact location was about 0.3 miles southwest of the causeway, and about 1.25 miles southwest of the L35 runway 8 threshold. L35 elevation was 6,752 feet. An eyewitness on his property on the lake was attracted to the airplane by its sound. He estimated that at that time he noticed the airplane, it was about 30 to 35 feet above the lake, and headed south, towards him. He then saw it bank right, and impact the lake. He summoned 911 assistance, and then ran into the lake to render assistance. According to Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) records, the pilot held a private pilot certificate with airplane single engine land and instrument airplane ratings. He reported that he had a total flight experience of approximately 1,300 hours, including about 1,250 hours in the accident airplane make and model. The airplane was manufactured in 1979, and was equipped with a Teledyne Continental TSIO-520 engine. The L35 1035 automated weather observation included winds from 260 degrees at 8 knots, variable between 224 and 284 degrees; visibility 10 miles, clear skies; temperature 15 degrees C; dew point minus 8 degrees C; and an altimeter setting of 30.14 inches of mercury.

Not Yet Reported