Cessna 421C accident near Shaver Lake, California, May 29, 1988
On May 29, 1988 at about 2:10 am local time, a Cessna 421C, registered N98683, was destroyed in an accident near Shaver Lake, California. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 4 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
INFLIGHT ENCOUNTER WITH FORCASTED SEVERE ICING AND TURBULENCE BEYOND THE CAPABILITY OF EITHER THE AIRCRAFT OR THE PILOT , WHICH LED TO AN INFLGIHT LOSS OF CONTROL. FACTORS IN THE ACCIDENT WERE THE PILOTS LACK OF UNDERSTANDING OF HIGH ALTITUDE FLIGHT ASPECTS AND METEROLOGICAL PHENOMENA.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 29, 1988 · about 2:10 am local time
- Place
- Shaver Lake, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 4 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 421C · all 421Cs on the register
- Registration
- N98683 · no longer on the register · serial 421C0209
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT BOUGHT THE ACFT ABOUT 1 MONTH PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT. HE HAD LIMITED EXP IN THE ACFT, AND LIMITED EXP WITH HIGH ALT FLT AND ITS WX PHENOMONA. THE PLT OBTAINED TWO WX BREIFINGS FOR THE FLT. DURING BOTH, HE WAS ADVISED OF THE FORECAST AND PLT REPORTED CONDITIONS OF MODERATE TO SEVERE MIXED ICING AND TURBULENCE ASSOCIATED WITH A MTN WAVE ON THE EASTERN SIDE OF THE SIERRA NEVADA MTNS. INSTEAD OF FLYING ALONG HIS INTENDED ROUTE ON THE WESTERN SIDE OF THE MTNS, HE CHOSE A DIRECT ROUTE, WHICH PLACED THE ACFT ON THE EASTERN SIDE OF THE MTNS. THE TRACK OF THE ACFT WAS ESTABLISHED BY RECORDED RADAR DATA. THE DATA SHOWED THE ACFT IN CRUISE AT 16,500 FT UNTIL ABOUT 1 MIN PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT. THE ACFT WAS SHOWN TO CLIMB TO 17,200 FEET BEFORE IT DISAPPEARED. THE LAST RADAR TARGET WAS OBSERVED ABOUT 2 MILES FROM THE IMPACT LOCATION. THE ACFT IMPACTED IN A STEEP NOSE DOWN DESCENT.
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: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 3,060 hours in all; 15 in this make and model; 25 in the last 90 days; 15 in the last 30 days; 2,950 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,575 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 21, 1987; 35 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 7,450 lb
- Seats: 7
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental GTSI0-520L (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: L67 Rialto CA at 1:00 am
- Destination: TRK Truckee CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: dusk
- Wind: from 200° at 35 knots, gusting 45
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 1,500 ft
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
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.