Cessna 337D accident near Savannah, Georgia, January 26, 1987
On January 26, 1987 at about 5:31 pm local time, a Cessna 337D, registered N10MM, was destroyed in an accident near Savannah, Georgia. It was an aerial observation flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 4 others were unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 26, 1987 · about 5:31 pm local time
- Place
- Savannah, Georgia · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 4 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 337D · all 337Ds on the register
- Registration
- N10MM · registry record · serial 3370986
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Aerial observation flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT WAS FLYING A DONATED AIRCRAFT IN SUPPORT OF A PROGRAM TO DOCUMENT THE ACTIVITIES OF WRIGHT WHALES OFF THE COAST OF THE CAROLINA'S AND GEORGIA. THE PLT HAD BEEN WITH THE OWNER ON A PREVIOUS FLT, WHEN PROBLEMS DEVELOPED WHILE SWITCHING TO/AND/OR FROM THE AUX FUEL TANKS TO THE MAIN FUEL TANKS. THERE WAS NO DOCUMENTED REPAIR OR TROUBLE SHOOTING CONDUCTED BEFORE THE ACCIDENT FLIGHT. ON THIS FLIGHT THE PILOT TOOK OFF WITH FUEL IN THE AUX TANKS AND SWITCHED TO THE AUX TANKS WHILE ABOUT 20 MILES OFF SHORE AND FLEW SEVERAL LEGS OF THE SEARCH PATTERN. THE ENG QUIT. HE STARTED TOWARD THE SHORE AND THEN SWITCHED THE FRONT ENG TO THE MAIN FUEL TANK, IT QUIT ALSO. THE ACFT WAS DITCHED IN THE OCEAN AND SANK ABOUT TWO MINUTES AFTER IMPACT. IT WAS NOT RECOVERED.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 3,979 hours in all; 18 in this make and model; 40 in the last 90 days; 3,464 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 573 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 8, 1986; 30 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,400 lb
- Seats: 5
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-360 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 55J Fernandina Bch FL at 3:31 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 340° at 11 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 1,900 ft; scat at 1,100 ft
- Temperature: 43°F (6°C), dew point 37°F (3°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 4:51 pm from SAV, 18 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 3 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.