Cessna T337H N1497S

Summary

On 28 October 1994 at about 02:20 local time, a Cessna T337H registered N1497S was involved in an accident near Douglas City, California, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 died. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

28 October 1994 at 02:20

Classification

Accident

Location

Douglas City, California, United States

Coordinates

40.5803, -122.8596

Aircraft

Cessna T337H

Registration

N1497S

Category

Airplane

Engines

2

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Auburn → Redding

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

IMC

Light

Night/Dark

NTSB number

LAX95FA020

2 people died.

The improper in-flight decision of the pilot to fly in dark night time conditions in mountainous terrain during adverse weather conditions.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

THE AIRCRAFT COLLIDED WITH A TREE IN MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN DURING NIGHT INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS. THE PILOT DIVERTED FROM HIS PLANNED DESTINATION AFTER ENCOUNTERING ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS. THE NON-INSTRUMENT RATED PILOT WAS FLYING LOW IN MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN WHEN HE ENCOUNTERED RAIN, LOW CLOUDS, AND GUSTING WIND CONDITIONS. A HIGHWAY PATROL OFFICER, WHO IS ALSO A LICENSED PILOT, REPORTED THE WEATHER IN THE AREA AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT AS IMC. THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE FOUND OF MECHANICAL FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION WITH THE AIRPLANE.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.