Cessna 414 accident near Long Beach, California, October 26, 1991
On October 26, 1991 at about 4:01 pm local time, a Cessna 414, registered N3843C, was destroyed in an accident near Long Beach, California (Daugherty Field). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S IMPROPER EMERGENCY PROCEDURES BY NOT RETRACTING THE LANDING GEAR WHEN HE SHUT THE ENGINE DOWN AND HIS FAILURE TO MAINTAIN AIRSPEED. THE SCAVENGE PUMP FAILURE, SHUTTING DOWN THE ENGINE AND THE INADVERTENT STALL WERE FACTORS IN THE ACCIDENT.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 26, 1991 · about 4:01 pm local time
- Place
- Long Beach, California · Daugherty Field · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 414 · all 414s on the register
- Registration
- N3843C · no longer on the register · serial 4140846
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT REPORTED THAT HE HAD LOST THE LEFT ENGINE DURING THE INITIAL CLIMB PHASE OF A CROSS-COUNTRY FLIGHT. GROUND WITNESSES OBSERVED THAT THE AIRPLANE'S LANDING GEAR WAS DOWN AND THE LEFT PROPELLER WAS FEATHERED AS IT TURNED LEFT ONTO THE DOWNWIND LEG OF THE TRAFFIC PATTERN. OTHER WITNESSES OBSERVED THE AIRPLANE'S WINGS DIP BEFORE IT NOSED OVER INTO THE TERRAIN WHILE TURNING ONTO THE FINAL APPROACH COURSE. THE AIRPLANE STRUCK THE GROUND AND A FENCE THAT SEPARATED TWO RESIDENTIAL YARDS. THE WRECKAGE EXAMINATION DISCLOSED THAT THE LEFT ENGINE'S SCAVENGE PUMP FAILED. THIS FAILURE LED THE PILOT TO BELIEVE THAT THE ENGINE FAILED. THE PILOT'S IMPROPER EMERGENCY PROCEDURES BY FAILING TO RETRACT THE LANDING GEAR AND MAINTAIN AIRSPEED PRECIPITATED THE RESULTING STALL AND UNCONTROLLED DESCENT.
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: 1,510 hours in all; 317 in this make and model; 51 in the last 90 days; 15 in the last 30 days; 1,377 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,711 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 2, 1990; 180 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 6,350 lb
- Seats: 7
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental TSIO-520-N (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Destination: SDL Scottsdale AZ
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 3, 10,000 ft by 200 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 070° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 5,000 ft; scat at 2,000 ft
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 4:03 pm from LGB, 1 miles away
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.