Cessna 185E accident near Redding, California, February 13, 1988
On February 13, 1988 at about 8:23 pm local time, a Cessna 185E, registered CFCTO, was substantially damaged in an accident near Redding, California (Redding Muni airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 4 people were 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
- February 13, 1988 · about 8:23 pm local time
- Place
- Redding, California · Redding Muni · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 185E · all 185Es on the register
- Registration
- CFCTO · no longer on the register · serial 18501948
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE CANADIAN PLT ATTEMPTED TO LAND THE CONVENTIONAL GEAR ACFT ON RUNWAY 34 WITH THE REPORTED LOCAL WIND FROM 330 DEG AT 16 KTS. THE ACFT TOUCHED DOWN ABOUT 2400 FT BEYOND THE THRESHOLD OF THE 7003-FOOT-LONG RWY. AFTER A BOUNCED LANDING, DIRECTIONAL CONTROL WAS LOST & THE ACFT GROUNDLOOPED. THE PLT DID NOT REPORT EXPERIENCING ANY MECHANICAL DIFFICULTIES WITH THE ACFT. THE PLT DID NOT FILE AN ACC REPORT.
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: 400 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 3,350 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental IO-520 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: BFL Bakersfield CA at 5:20 pm
- Destination: RDD Redding CA
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 34, 7,003 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 330° at 16 knots
- Visibility: 60 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 23°F (-5°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 7:50 pm from RDD
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.