Swearingen SA26-T accident near Fresno, California, May 17, 1982
On May 17, 1982 at about 3:18 pm local time, a Swearingen SA26-T, registered N711AH, was substantially damaged in an accident near Fresno, California (Fresno Air Terminal airport). It was an executive or corporate flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. 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
- May 17, 1982 · about 3:18 pm local time
- Place
- Fresno, California · Fresno Air Terminal
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Swearingen SA26-T · all SA26-Ts on the register
- Registration
- N711AH · no longer on the register · serial T26-14
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Executive or corporate flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE AIRCRAFT WAS OBSERVED TO MAKE A GEAR UP LANDING. INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT THE GEAR OPERATED NORMALLY AND THAT THE GEAR LEVER WAS FOUND IN THE DOWN POSITION. THE CIRCUIT BREAKER WAS POPPED.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,333 hours in all; 279 in this make and model; 137 in the last 90 days; 2,178 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,040 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 93 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 10,062 lb
- Seats: 8
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: P&W PTGA-28 (turboprop); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: POC Leesville LA at 7:10 am
- Destination: 1D2 Plymouth MI
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 29, 9,218 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 280° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; not recorded
- Temperature: 156°F (69°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 28.00 inHg
- Observation at 8:26 am from FAT
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.
Other NTSB records under N711AH the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.