Cessna 421C accident near Callahan, California, August 6, 1986
On August 6, 1986 at about 6:15 pm local time, a Cessna 421C, registered N98998, was destroyed in an accident near Callahan, California. It was an executive or corporate flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. 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 6, 1986 · about 6:15 pm local time
- Place
- Callahan, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 421C · all 421Cs on the register
- Registration
- N98998 · no longer on the register · serial 421C0113
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Executive or corporate flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
AFTER DROPPING COMPANY EXECUTIVES OFF AT MEDFORD, THE PILOT WAS TO RETURN TO SANTA ROSA EMPTY. WITNESSES ALONG THE 25 NM VALLEY WHICH ENDS AT THE ACCIDENT SITE REPORTED THAT THE AIRCRAFT BUZZED THEIR LOCATIONS AT AGL ALTITUDES VARIOUSLY DESCRIBED AS '10 FEET' AND 'SO LOW YOU COULD COUNT THE RIVETS.' US FOREST SVC PERSONNEL NEAR THE ACCIDENT SITE REPORTED THAT THE AIRCRAFT FLEW OVER THEIR POSITION 'JUST ABOVE THE TREES' FOLLOWING THE SLOPE OF THE MOUNTAIN UPWARD. THE ACCIDENT SITE IS ON A POPULAR HIKING TRAIL THE PILOT'S GIRLFRIEND REPORTEDLY SAID SHE WOULD LIKE TO VISIT. ON SITE EXAMINATION REVEALED THAT THE AIRCRAFT FIRST CONTACTED THE UPPER 5 FEET OF THE TREETOPS IN A CLIMB ATTITUDE. NO PREIMPACT FAILURES OF THE ACFT WERE IDENTIFIED.
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; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,440 hours in all; 370 in this make and model; 30 in the last 90 days; 11 in the last 30 days; 2,275 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,519 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 10, 1986; 90 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 7,450 lb
- Seats: 7
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental GTSI0-520-F-K (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
- Operator: Telesite CORP.
The flight
- Departed from: MFR Medford OR at 5:17 pm
- Destination: STS Santa Rosa CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 40 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 5:48 pm from 105, 30 miles away
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.