Cessna 421C N98683

Summary

On 29 May 1988 at about 02:10 local time, a Cessna 421C registered N98683, operated by John D. MAC Donald, was involved in an accident near Shaver Lake, California, United States. 4 people were on board and 4 died. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

29 May 1988 at 02:10

Classification

Accident

Location

Shaver Lake, California, United States

Coordinates

37.1304, -119.2205

Aircraft

Cessna 421C

Registration

N98683

Category

Airplane

Engines

2

Operator

John D. MAC Donald

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Rialto → Truckee

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Dusk

NTSB number

LAX88FA215

4 people died.

INFLIGHT ENCOUNTER WITH FORCASTED SEVERE ICING AND TURBULENCE BEYOND THE CAPABILITY OF EITHER THE AIRCRAFT OR THE PILOT , WHICH LED TO AN INFLGIHT LOSS OF CONTROL. FACTORS IN THE ACCIDENT WERE THE PILOTS LACK OF UNDERSTANDING OF HIGH ALTITUDE FLIGHT ASPECTS AND METEROLOGICAL PHENOMENA.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

THE PLT BOUGHT THE ACFT ABOUT 1 MONTH PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT. HE HAD LIMITED EXP IN THE ACFT, AND LIMITED EXP WITH HIGH ALT FLT AND ITS WX PHENOMONA. THE PLT OBTAINED TWO WX BREIFINGS FOR THE FLT. DURING BOTH, HE WAS ADVISED OF THE FORECAST AND PLT REPORTED CONDITIONS OF MODERATE TO SEVERE MIXED ICING AND TURBULENCE ASSOCIATED WITH A MTN WAVE ON THE EASTERN SIDE OF THE SIERRA NEVADA MTNS. INSTEAD OF FLYING ALONG HIS INTENDED ROUTE ON THE WESTERN SIDE OF THE MTNS, HE CHOSE A DIRECT ROUTE, WHICH PLACED THE ACFT ON THE EASTERN SIDE OF THE MTNS. THE TRACK OF THE ACFT WAS ESTABLISHED BY RECORDED RADAR DATA. THE DATA SHOWED THE ACFT IN CRUISE AT 16,500 FT UNTIL ABOUT 1 MIN PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT. THE ACFT WAS SHOWN TO CLIMB TO 17,200 FEET BEFORE IT DISAPPEARED. THE LAST RADAR TARGET WAS OBSERVED ABOUT 2 MILES FROM THE IMPACT LOCATION. THE ACFT IMPACTED IN A STEEP NOSE DOWN DESCENT.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.