Cessna 320 accident near Hayward, California, November 6, 1989
On November 6, 1989 at about 10:00 pm local time, a Cessna 320, registered N3018T, was substantially damaged in an accident near Hayward, California (Hayward airport). It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO ATTAIN THE PROPER TOUCHDOWN POINT AND HIS IMPROPER FLARE FOR LANDING. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: THE PILOT'S LACK OF EXPERIENCE IN THE MAKE AND MODEL OF AIRCRAFT, AND COMPANY INDUCED PRESSURE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 6, 1989 · about 10:00 pm local time
- Place
- Hayward, California · Hayward · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 320 · all 320s on the register
- Registration
- N3018T · registry record · serial 0018
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT STATED THAT COMPANY MANAGEMENT REQUESTED HE TAKE A BUSINESS FLIGHT THAT HE DIDN'T WANT TO TAKE. HE SUGGESTED THAT ANOTHER PILOT TAKE THE FLIGHT, BUT MANAGEMENT ELECTED TO HAVE ANOTHER PILOT ACCOMPANY HIM. IN RETROSPECT, THE PILOT SAID THAT HE SHOULD HAVE REFUSED TO TAKE THE FLIGHT BECAUSE HE HAD SOME PERSONAL PROBLEMS THAT WERE DISTRACTING HIM. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT HE WAS ATTEMPTING TO LAND 'ON THE NUMBERS' OF A RELATIVELY SHORT RUNWAY. HE SAID THAT HE GOT THE AIRPLANE TOO SLOW TOO SOON AND INADVERTENTLY MADE A HARD LANDING SHORT OF THE RUNWAY.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,340 hours in all; 4 in this make and model; 11 in the last 90 days; 2,120 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 5,200 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental TSIO-470-D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SJC San Jose CA at 9:45 pm
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 28R, 3,100 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
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.