Great Lakes 2T-1A accident near Redding, California, May 23, 1983
On May 23, 1983, a Great Lakes 2T-1A, registered NC204K, was substantially damaged in an accident near Redding, California (Benton Field). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was 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 23, 1983
- Place
- Redding, California · Benton Field · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Great Lakes 2T-1A · all 2T-1As on the register
- Registration
- NC204K · no longer on the register · serial 30
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT VEERED OFF THE RWY COLLIDED WITH A DITCH AND NOSED OVER DURING LANDING. THE PILOT STATED THAT THE ENGINE DIED WHEN HE RETARDED IT TO IDLE AT TOUCHDOWN. WHEN HE APPLIED THE BRAKES THE PEDALS HAD NO PRESSURE AND NO EFFECT. DUE TO A SLIGHT CROSSWIND AND 'LIMITED AUTHORITY TAILWHEEL' AS THE ACFT SLOWED IT BEGAN A RIGHT TURN DEPARTED THE RWY, HIT A DITCH AND NOSED OVER. THE BRAKE SYSTEM WAS EXAMINED AND A LINE THAT FLEXES AS THE LANDING GEAR STRUT EXTENDS AND CONTRACTS WAS CRACKED. NO BRAKE FLUID WAS FOUND IN THE MASTER CYLINDER AND A NOTICEABLE AMOUNT OF FLUID WAS LOCATED ON THE OUTSIDE OF THE LINE IN THE AREA OF THE CRACK. THIS ACFT AIRFRAME HAD A TOTAL TIME OF 1335 HOURS. NO RECORD COULD BE FOUND ON THE AMOUNT OF TIME ON THE BRAKE LINE.
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
- Ratings: multi-engine land; multi-engine sea; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 29,335 hours in all; 1 in this make and model; 141 in the last 90 days; 29,169 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,335 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 11, 1983; 15 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,580 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Warner 185J (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: RBL Red Bluff CA at 11:45 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 15, 2,420 ft by 80 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 210° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 60 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 91°F (33°C), dew point 54°F (12°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.