Cessna 340A accident near Stockton, California, August 5, 1990
On August 5, 1990 at about 7:16 pm local time, a Cessna 340A, registered N38AW, was substantially damaged in an accident near Stockton, California (Stockton airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOTS FAILURE TO PROPERLY POSITION THE FUEL SELECTOR PRIOR TO FLIGHT, AND THE FAILURE OF THE CHECK PILOT TO ADEQUATELY SUPERVISE THE CONDUCT OF THE FLIGHT.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 5, 1990 · about 7:16 pm local time
- Place
- Stockton, California · Stockton · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 340A · all 340As on the register
- Registration
- N38AW · registry record · serial 340A0747
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE OWNER/PILOT OF A CESSNA 340A STATED THAT NEITHER HE NOR HIS INSTRUCTOR REPOSITIONED THE FUEL SELECTOR PRIOR TO FLIGHT AFTER A GROUND DEMONSTRATION OF THE FUEL CROSS-FEED SYSTEM, EVEN THOUGH A CHECK LIST HAD BEEN USED. DURING THE FLIGHT, BOTH ENGINES FAILED AND THE AIRCRAFT LANDED SHORT OF THE RUNWAY WHILE ATTEMPTING A FORCED LANDING AT THE STOCKTON AIRPORT. POST CRASH EXAMINATION OF THE FUEL SYSTEM REVEALED THAT THE LEFT TANK WAS EMPTY AND THE RIGHT TANK WAS FULL.
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: 1,300 hours in all; 6 in this make and model; 1,200 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 6,290 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental TSIO-520-NB (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SJC San Jose CA at 7:10 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 11, 8,650 ft by 150 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 320° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Observation at 7:15 pm from ATCT, 1 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.
Other NTSB records under N38AW the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.