Cessna 414A accident near Big Pine, California, July 31, 1988
On July 31, 1988 at about 7:17 pm local time, a Cessna 414A, registered N414YV, was destroyed in an accident near Big Pine, California. It was a personal 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 PILOT INTENTIONALLY FLEW OVER AN AREA OF HIGH TERRAIN IN WHICH HE FAILED TO MAINTAIN THE PROPER ALTITUDE AND HE DELAYED HIS DECISION TO REVERSE COURSE. A CONTRIBUTING FACTOR WAS THE PILOT'S IMPROPER IN-FLIGHT DECISION.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 31, 1988 · about 7:17 pm local time
- Place
- Big Pine, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 414A · all 414As on the register
- Registration
- N414YV · no longer on the register · serial 414A0529
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT-OWNER DECIDED TO OVERFLY A GLACIER WHICH WAS LOCATED IN THE SIERRA NEVADA MOUNTAINS. THE GLACIER WAS LOCATED NEAR THE 12,000 FOOT MSL BASE OF A 14,000 FOOT MSL MOUNTAIN NEAR THE HEAD OF A BOX CANYON. WITNESSES REPORTED CLEARLY OBSERVING THE ACFT ENTER THE CANYON AREA. WHEN THE ACFT WAS NEARLY OVER THE GLACIER THE ACFT WAS OBSERVED TO COMMENCE A COURSE REVERSAL. DURING THE TURN THE ACFT STALLED, DESCENDED RAPIDLY & CRASHED INTO ROCKY 40 DEGREE UPSLOPING TERRAIN WHEREUPON IT BURNED.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 3,500 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 18, 1988
- Maximum gross weight: 6,500 lb
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental TSIO-520-NB (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: BIH Bishop CA at 7:00 pm
- Destination: MYF San Diego CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 360° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 3,000 ft; not recorded at 3,000 ft
- Temperature: 55°F (13°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.