Douglas DC-3C accident near Alturas, California, August 13, 2001
On August 13, 2001 at about 2:05 am local time, a Douglas DC-3C, registered N376AS, was involved in an accident near Alturas, California (Alturas, Ca. airport). It was a public-use flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured; 3 others were unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The inadvertent encounter with terrain induced turbulence. A factor was the high terrain.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 13, 2001 · about 2:05 am local time
- Place
- Alturas, California · Alturas, Ca. · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured; 3 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Douglas DC-3C · all DC-3Cs on the register
- Registration
- N376AS · registry record · serial 27047
- Damage
- Not recorded
- Flight
- Public-use flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The operator stated that their mission was to drop smoke jumpers on the Dusenbury fire incident in the South Warner Wilderness area of the Modoc National Forest. The air was smooth as the airplane descended over the fire. The 9 smoke jumpers were let out over the fire at 8,500 feet mean sea level (msl) in five passes, followed by four more passes to drop cargo. When the jump operations were completed, 360-degree circuits were made to gain altitude for the flight back to Redding. The "fasten seatbelt" sign was turned off for jump operations and cabin securing. There were two cabin crewmembers (spotters) on board who were securing the cabin for their return flight to Redding. As the airplane crossed over a ridge line at 9,000 feet msl (800 feet above ground level), it encountered a sudden wind shear, or downdraft, but then immediately back into smooth air. One spotter hit his helmet on the ceiling, but was not injured. The second spotter, who was in mid-cabin reported, "I just broke my leg." The pilot diverted the flight to Alturas. No other turbulence was encountered prior to or after the accident event. Following the accident, the pilot filed a "Safecon Aviation Safety Communique" through the U.S. Forest Service aviation management website. Additionally, the pilot made the following recommendations to prevent future accidents of this nature: 1) Re-emphasize to flight crews the importance of cabin safety awareness. 2) Re-emphasize to flight crews the potential for hidden turbulence over mountainous terrain. 3) Emphasize the importance of remaining in stable air while cabin personnel are securing cargo and moving about the cabin at the completion of drop missions. 4) Ensure all personnel aboard the aircraft are seated with seatbelts fastened whenever turbulence is anticipated.
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, flight instructor, commercial pilot, flight engineer
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: glider; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 2,400 hours in all; 61 in this make and model; 61 in the last 90 days; 8 in the last 30 days; 1,800 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: June 14, 2001
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Co-pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor
- Ratings: multi-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 13,000 hours in all; 62 in this make and model; 75 in the last 90 days; 25 in the last 30 days; 12,000 as pilot in command; 2,500 on instruments
- Last flight review: June 8, 2001
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 18,251.1 hours
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme, May 22, 2001; 110.9 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 26,900 lb
- Seats: 23
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: P&W PT6-65 (turboprop); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: RDD Redding CA
- Runway 31, 4,301 ft by 150 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 260° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.88 inHg
- Observation at 2:55 am from KAAT
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.