Boeing B75-N1 accident near Blythe, California, March 5, 1985
On March 5, 1985 at about 10:22 pm local time, a Boeing B75-N1, registered N844TH, was substantially damaged in an accident near Blythe, California (Blythe airport). 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
- March 5, 1985 · about 10:22 pm local time
- Place
- Blythe, California · Blythe · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Boeing B75-N1 · all B75-N1s on the register
- Registration
- N844TH · registry record · serial 75-7016
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING LANDING ROLL THE LEFT GEAR COLLAPSED & THE ACFT GROUND LOOPED. EXAM OF THE LEFT GEAR STRUT REVEALED PRESENCE OF A PREEXISTING CRACK. THE CRACK WAS LOCATED INSIDE THE GEAR CASTING & IT WAS NOT VISIBLE DURING PREFLIGHT INSPECTIONS. THE ACFT REPORTEDLY HAD BEEN USED IN AGRICULTURAL OPERATIONS BEFORE BEING ACQUIRED BY ITS PRESENT OWNER.
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: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 600 hours in all; 36 in this make and model; 75 in the last 90 days; 75 in the last 30 days; 500 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rear
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,776 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded, March 16, 1984
- Maximum gross weight: 3,200 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: P&W R-985-14B (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: CGZ Casa Grande AZ at 8:40 pm
- Destination: BLH Blythe CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 26, 6,562 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 25,000 ft; scat at 20,000 ft
- Temperature: 66°F (19°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:28 pm from BLH
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.