The National Transportation Safety Board traveled to the scene of this accident.
Additional Participating Entities:
Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Sacramento, California
Lycoming Engines; Williamsport, Pennsylvania
Textron Aviation; Wichita, Kansas
Location: Oroville, California
Accident Number: WPR22FA196
Date and Time: June 2, 2022, 12:18 Local
Registration: N7641R
Aircraft: Beech 19A
Injuries: 2 Fatal
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General aviation - Personal
On June 2, 2022, about 1218 Pacific daylight time, a Beechcraft 19A Musketeer airplane, N7641R, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Oroville Municipal Airport (OVE), Oroville, California. The pilot and pilot-rated passenger were fatally injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight.
According to a video of the accident flight captured by a witness, who was also a student of the accident pilot, the pilot and passenger completed an engine run-up and subsequently taxied to runway 13. The engine sounded smooth and continuous as the airplane lifted off the runway in about 1,300 ft and transitioned into a climb. Approximately fifteen seconds later the airplane began to descend. The airplane started another climb about four seconds later, which was immediately followed by a right turn. The airplane’s rate of turn began to increase during the turn at which time the video ceased. The witness reported that the airplane impacted the ground seconds after he terminated the video to assist the occupants of the airplane.
The witness reported that he flew the accident airplane with the pilot about 2 weeks prior to the accident. After an uneventful preflight inspection and engine run-up they taxied to runway 31 where they began a ground run. They performed two attempted takeoffs and aborted both due to performance issues. According to the witness, the pilot and pilot-rated passenger had planned to fly the airplane on the day of the accident to troubleshoot the performance deficiency.
The airplane came to rest in an approximately 40° nose down attitude on a heading of about 097° magnetic, about 500 ft south of the departure end of runway 13. All major components were accounted for at the accident site. The left wing remained attached to the fuselage, and the right wing was partially separated at the wing root. The fuselage frame was deformed about midspan and the tail was canted slightly left of the fuselage. Both the stabilator and rudder remained connected to the empennage at their attachments. The engine remained attached to the engine firewall, which was wrapped around the engine accessory case. Both propeller blades remained attached to the propeller hub, which was still connected to the engine crankshaft.
Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information
Aircraft Make: Beech
Registration: N7641R
Model/Series: 19A
Aircraft Category: Airplane
Amateur Built:
Operator: On file
Operating Certificate(s) Held: None
Operator Designator Code:
Meteorological Information and Flight Plan
Conditions at Accident Site: VMC
Condition of Light: Day
Observation Facility, Elevation: KOVE, 187 ft msl
Observation Time: 12:53 Local
Distance from Accident Site: 1 Nautical Miles
Temperature/Dew Point: 31°C /6°C
Lowest Cloud Condition: Clear
Wind Speed/Gusts, Direction: 11 knots / 17 knots, 180°
Lowest Ceiling: None
Visibility: 10 miles
Altimeter Setting: 29.8 inches Hg
Type of Flight Plan Filed: None
Departure Point: Oroville, CA
Destination: Oroville, CA
Wreckage and Impact Information
Crew Injuries: 1 Fatal
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Passenger Injuries: 1 Fatal
Aircraft Fire: None
Ground Injuries:
Aircraft Explosion: None
Total Injuries: 2 Fatal
Latitude, Longitude: 39.485833,-121.61194
Aircraft crashed under unknown circumstances.
Date: 02-JUN-22
Time: 19:20:00Z
Regis#: N7641R
Aircraft Make: BEECH
Aircraft Model: 19
Event Type: ACCIDENT
Highest Injury: FATAL
Total Fatal: 2
Flight Crew: 1 fatal
Pax: 1 fatal
Activity: PERSONAL
Flight Phase: EN ROUTE (ENR)
Operation: 91
Aircraft Missing: No
Damage: UNKNOWN
City: OROVILLE
State: CALIFORNIA
Those who may have information that might be relevant to the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigation may contact them by email witness@ntsb.gov, and any friends and family who want to contact investigators about the accident should email assistance@ntsb.gov. You can also call the NTSB Response Operations Center at 844-373-9922 or 202-314-6290.
66-year-old Kurt Dunning of Chico (right) was identified as one of the two victims of Thursday afternoon's plane crash at the Oroville Airport by the Butte County Sheriff's Office.
OROVILLE, California — The Butte County Sheriff's Office (BCSO) confirmed the identities of the two men who died after a plane crash at the Oroville Airport Thursday afternoon.
BCSO Community Relations Coordinator Megan McMann confirmed the men as 75-year-old Ronald McHale of Oroville and 66-year-old Kurt Dunning of Chico. The two were pronounced dead after the plane they were in crashed just after noon on Thursday.
The Oroville Police Department and CAL FIRE Butte County are unsure how much more information will be released Friday, but say that the National Transportation Safety Board and Federal Aviation Administration continue to investigate the origin of the crash.
