Plane Lost Power While Diverting To Santa Barbara

A weekend accident has claimed the life of one of three people onboard a Beechcraft BE36 Bonanza in central California.

The Fresno Bee reports an unidentified woman has died from injuries sustained when the aircraft impacted a field north of Coalinga Airport at around 8:30 pm Sunday night. Online flight tracking information shows the plane was traveling on an IFR flight plan from Long Beach to the Harris Ranch Inn and Restaurant, which has its own 2,800-foot paved runway (3O8).

FAA officials said fog at Harris Ranch precluded a landing there, so the pilot attempted to divert to Santa Barbara. However, the Bonanza's engine apparently lost power soon after, and the pilot then attempted to make an emergency landing at New Coalinga Municipal Airport (C80).

The Bonanza crashed about 400 feet short of the runway at Coalinga, about six nautical miles southwest of Harris Ranch.

Authorities have declined to release the identities of the three persons onboard.

IDENTIFICATION
  Regis#: 3058Y        Make/Model: BE36      Description: 36 Bonanza
  Date: 12/01/2008     Time: 0424

  Event Type: Accident   Highest Injury: Serious     Mid Air: N    Missing: N
  Damage: Substantial

LOCATION
  City: COALINGA   State: CA   Country: US

DESCRIPTION
  AIRCRAFT ENGINE FAILED AND AIRCRAFT FORCE LANDED IN A FIELD, COALINGA, CA

INJURY DATA      Total Fatal:   0
                 # Crew:   1     Fat:   0     Ser:   0     Min:   1     Unk:   
                 # Pass:   2     Fat:   0     Ser:   1     Min:   0     Unk:   1
                 # Grnd:         Fat:   0     Ser:   0     Min:   0     Unk:   

WEATHER: PRB 0453Z AUTO 00000KT 10SM CLR 09/08 A3015

OTHER DATA
  Activity: Pleasure      Phase: Landing      Operation: OTHER

  FAA FSDO: FRESNO, CA  (WP17)                    Entry date: 12/01/2008

FMI: www.faa.gov, www.ntsb.gov