Cessna 337A accident near Weatherford, Texas, November 24, 1988
On November 24, 1988 at about 8:20 pm local time, a Cessna 337A, registered N5337S, was destroyed in an accident near Weatherford, Texas. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT FAILED TO MAINTAIN MINIMUM REQUIRED AIRSPEED FOR SLOW FLIGHT (VS), RESULTING IN A STALL WITH INSUFFICIENT ALTITUDE TO RECOVER. A CONTRIBUTING FACTOR WAS THE PIPER PILOT'S UNANNOUNCED FLY-BY, WHICH DIVERTED THE CESSNA PILOT'S ATTENTION.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 24, 1988 · about 8:20 pm local time
- Place
- Weatherford, Texas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 337A · all 337As on the register
- Registration
- N5337S · registry record · serial 337-0437
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT WAS DESCENDING HIS AIRPLANE WHILE IN SLOW FLIGHT WITH 10 DEGREES FLAPS IN A DOWNWIND TRACK TO LOOK AT PROPERTY THAT HE PLANNED TO PURCHASE. A SECOND AIRPLANE FLEW BY HIS AIRPLANE AT THE LOW ALTITUDE AND BANKED AWAY SHARPLY. THE ACCIDENT AIRPLANE'S WINGS WOBBLED, THE NOSE DROPPED AND IT IMPACTED INTO AN OPEN WHEAT FIELD.
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: commercial pilot, private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 700 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 4,200 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-360-C&D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: WEA Weatherford TX at 7:50 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 170° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 77°F (25°C), dew point 43°F (6°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 7:50 pm from MWL, 20 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
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.