Modesto City-County

The pilot departed Modesto City-County Airport for a local solo flight. After takeoff from runway 10L, he reported technical problems with the engine and elected to return for an emergency landing. He completed a circuit south of the airport then returned in a left hand turn to join the runway 28R. On short final, he lost control of the airplane that crashed by trees, nearby the Tuolomne River, less than 500 metres from the runway threshold. The airplane was destroyed and the pilot was killed.

A Beech 65 collided with trees in mountainous terrain after an inflight loss of control. A pilot observed the airplane start a turn to the right, roll right and continued until inverted and enter into a spin. The aircraft was in a steep nose down attitude when it began its pull out. The engines were heard by a ground witness who initially mistook them for an approach motorcycle. The pilot initially flew the aircraft 45 days before the accident and logged 3.5 dual instruction hours. There was no record in the pilot's logbook of any additional flight training since the initial flight. The pilot satisfactorily completed a before in a Cessna 150 four days before the accident. Examination of the wreckage disclosed the right engine had broken exhaust valve, but the left propeller was feathered. There were no preexisting mechanical malfunctions or failures found with the left engine. The aircraft was destroyed and all six occupants were killed.

On approach to Modesto City-County Airport, both engines failed simultaneously. The pilot attempted an emergency landing on a highway when the airplane struck an automobile and crashed. Both occupants on board the aircraft were slightly injured while three people were killed in the car.