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Accidents · NTSB LAX04FA241 · Final report

Cessna 337 accident near Carson City, Nevada, June 16, 2004

On June 16, 2004 at about 7:42 pm local time, a Cessna 337, registered N63BB, was destroyed in an accident near Carson City, Nevada (Carson City, Nevada airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).

The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged

the pilot's failure to maintain an adequate airspeed while maneuvering during a go-around that led to an inadvertent stall spin.

Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.

What the record shows

Date
June 16, 2004 · about 7:42 pm local time
Place
Carson City, Nevada · Carson City, Nevada · map
Type
Accident
Injuries
1 person was killed.
Weather
visual conditions (good weather)
Aircraft
Cessna 337 · all 337s on the register
Registration
N63BB · registry record · serial 337-0112
Damage
Destroyed
Flight
Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)

The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record

During a left climbing turn on a go-around the aircraft stalled and entered a spin to ground impact. According to witnesses, the airplane entered a left traffic pattern at the uncontrolled airport for runway 9, although the airport facility directory published pattern is for right traffic. The witnesses saw the airplane line up on final approach for a parallel taxiway south of runway 9, then it started a go-around. The airplane performed a continuous left climbing turn to about 1,000 feet above ground level. While in the turn the airplane appeared to stall, followed by the nose dropping as the airplane entered a 1 1/2 turn spin that continued to ground impact about 5,000 feet northeast of the center of the airport. The density altitude was calculated at 7,200 feet mean sea level. A post crash fire thermally destroyed the airplane. An examination of the ashen remains of the aircraft found no evidence of a preimpact mechanical malfunction or failure. Toxicological analysis detected diphenhydramine, amphetamine, and methamphetamine in tissue samples from the pilot. Diphenhydramine is an over-the-counter antihistamine, commonly known by the trade name Benadryl, that has sedative effects commonly resulting in drowsiness and measurable negative effects on complex cognitive and motor tasks. In legal prescription form, amphetamine may be used for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), narcolepsy, and weight control; methamphetamine may be used for ADHD or severe obesity. Methamphetamine may also be detected as a result of recent use of a Vick's inhaler, which contains a form of the medication. There was no blood available for analysis, so it was not possible to determine when the substances might have been taken or whether the pilot was likely to have been impaired by them. The pilot did not indicate the use of any medications on his most recent application for airman medical certificate, approximately 6 weeks prior to the accident. The flight originated in New York a few day prior, and made stops in Pennsylvania, Ohio, Kentucky, South Carolina, Kansas, and Utah.

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
  • Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
  • Flight time: 1,807 hours in all; 970 in this make and model; 79 in the last 30 days; 1,592 as pilot in command
  • Last flight review: March 1, 2004
  • Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
  • Seat: unk
  • Injury: fatal

The aircraft

  • Airframe total time: 4,250 hours
  • Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, October 1, 2003; 50 hours since
  • Maximum gross weight: 4,400 lb
  • Seats: 6
  • Landing gear: retractable
  • Engine: Continental IO-360-C (piston); 0 hours total
  • Fire on the ground

The flight

  • Departed from: PVU Provo UT
  • Destination: CXP Carson City NV
  • Flight plan: none
  • Runway 09, 5,900 ft by 75 ft

Weather at the time

  • Light: daylight
  • Wind: from 080° at 7 knots, gusting 15
  • Visibility: 10 statute miles
  • Sky: clear
  • Temperature: 95°F (35°C), dew point 34°F (1°C)
  • Altimeter: 30.04 inHg
  • Observation at 11:56 am from RNO, 18 miles away

Injuries

FatalSeriousMinorNone
Crew1

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.