Cessna T303 accident near Simi Valley, California, August 31, 1985
On August 31, 1985, a Cessna T303, registered N6490V, was destroyed in an accident near Simi Valley, California. It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 3 people were seriously injured. 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
- August 31, 1985
- Place
- Simi Valley, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 3 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna T303 · all T303s on the register
- Registration
- N6490V · no longer on the register · serial T30300312
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH TREES DURING A FORCED LANDING FOLLOWING A LOSS OF PWR. THE STUDENT PLT STATED THE FLT WAS NORMAL UNTIL A 'VIOLENT RIGHT YAW' DEVELOPED WHEN THE TROTTLES WERE ADVANCED TO RECOVER FROM A PRACTICE STALL. AS THE CFI TOOK OVER THE CONTROLS AND ATTEPTED RECOVERY A 'SUBSTANTIAL LOSS OF POWER' OCCURRED ON BOTH ENGS. A FORCED LANDING WAS MADE IN A FLD DURING WHICH THE LEFT WING CONTACTED TREES AND THE ACFT WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES. POST ACCIDENT EXAMINATION OF THE LEFT ENG FAILED TO DISCLOSE ANY DISCREPANCIES. DISCREPANCIES WERE NOTED ON THE RIGHT ENG. 1) THE FUEL CONTROLLER FUEL LINE 'TEE' FITTING WAS CRACKED AROUND 50% OF ITS CIRCUMFERENCE. (DUCTILE OVERLOAD) 2) THE TURBOCHARGER GASKET ON THE INLET SIDE OF THE TURBINE SHOWED LEAKAGE AOUND 70% OF THE GASKET ARE. THE ACFT HAD A HISTORY OF SYMPTOMS OF FUEL VAPORIZATION WHICH SUBSIDED WITH USE OF THE AUX FUEL PUMP AS THE ENG MANUFACTORER SUGGESTS. IT IS UNKNOWN IF THE AUX PUMP WAS USED DURING THIS ACCIDENT.
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; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 3,365 hours in all; 127 in this make and model; 178 in the last 90 days; 112 in the last 30 days; 3,240 as pilot in command; 26,291 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 23, 1985; 1 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 5,000 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental TSIO-520-AE (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
- Operator: Gunnell Aviation
The flight
- Departed from: SMO Santa Monica CA at 11:45 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Observation at 5:21 pm
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 | |||
| 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.
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.