Cessna 340A accident near Monterey, California, January 3, 1983
On January 3, 1983 at about 1:20 am local time, a Cessna 340A, registered N1947E, was destroyed in an accident near Monterey, California. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 4 people had minor injuries. 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 3, 1983 · about 1:20 am local time
- Place
- Monterey, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 4 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 340A · all 340As on the register
- Registration
- N1947E · no longer on the register · serial 340A0677
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT BEGAN TO LOSE POWER AT ABOUT 400 FT AGL AFTER TAKEOFF AND THE PILOT ELECTED TO LAND ALONG THE SHORELINE IN THE OCEAN. THE ACFT DITCHED ABOUT 100 YARDS OFF SHORE. ALL 4 OCCUPANTS WERE ABLE TO EXIT THRU THE AIRSTAIR DOOR AND RECEIVEDONLY MINOR INJURIES. THE ACFT SANK AFTER ABOUT 5 MINUTES. IT WAS NOT RECOVERED FROM THE 27 FT DEEP WATER. TWO OCCUPANTS SWAM ASHORE AND 2 WERE RESCUED BY THE COAST GUARD. THE LINE ATTENDANT WHO SERVICED THE ACFT MISTOOK IT FOR A KING AIR. THE PILOT REQUESTED THAT ALL 4 TANKS BE TOPPED OFF. THE LINE ATTENDANT ADDED 110 GALLONS OF JET A FUEL.
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
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 3,200 hours in all; 41 in this make and model; 44 in the last 90 days; 3,000 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 5,990 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental TSIO-520-N (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: OAK Oakland CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: dusk
- Wind: from 120° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: scat
- Temperature: 50°F (10°C), dew point 39°F (4°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 1:00 am from MRY, 2 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.