Cessna T-337-D accident near Fullerton, California, May 5, 1991
On May 5, 1991 at about 7:15 pm local time, a Cessna T-337-D, registered N2688S, was substantially damaged in an accident near Fullerton, California (Fullerton airport). It was a personal 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 LOSS OF POWER IN THE FRONT ENGINE DUE TO THE IMPROPER AND INCOMPLETE INSTALLATION OF THE ENGINE IN THE AIRCRAFT BY A MECHANIC.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 5, 1991 · about 7:15 pm local time
- Place
- Fullerton, California · Fullerton
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna T-337-D · all T-337-Ds on the register
- Registration
- N2688S · no longer on the register · serial 337-0988
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE AIRCRAFT WAS ON A GO AROUND AT ABOUT 30 FT AGL WHEN THE FRONT ENGINE QUIT. THE PLT RETARDED BOTH THROTTLES AND LANDED; THE AIRCRAFT OVERRAN THE DEPARTURE END OF THE RUNWAY AND COLLIDED WITH A FENCE. THE FRONT ENGINE WAS OVERHAULED AND INSTALLED IN THE AIRCRAFT 2 HRS PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT. EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE REVEALED NUMEROUS DISCREPANCIES RELATING TO INCOMPLETE INSTALLATION OF THE ENGINE: TOOLS LEFT IN THE ENG COMPARTMENT; LOOSE AND NOT CONNECTED OIL AND FUEL LINES; IMPROPERLY CONNECTED THROTTLE AND MIXTURE CONTROLS; ETC. THE TURBO CONTROLLER WAS FOUND MISADJUSTED AND NOT PROPERLY CONTROLLING THE WASTE GATE VALVE. THE FUEL PRESSURE WAS SET EXCESSIVELY HIGH, WHICH CAUSED THE ENGINE TO QUIT WHEN RUN IN A TEST CELL. THE AIRCRAFT LOGBOOKS SHOWED THAT THE ENGINE INSTALLATION HAD BEEN SIGNED OFF BY AN AIRFRAME AND POWERPLANT MECHANIC AS COMPLETE.
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
- Flight time: 197 hours in all; 83 in this make and model; 3 in the last 90 days; 2 in the last 30 days; 116 as pilot in command; 81 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded, January 2, 2000
- Maximum gross weight: 4,400 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental TS10-360-A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 24, 3,100 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 220° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.