Cessna 421B accident near Monterey, California, June 24, 1992
On June 24, 1992 at about 5:30 pm local time, a Cessna 421B, registered N628RJ, was destroyed in an accident near Monterey, California. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 3 people were killed. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE OWNER/PILOT'S POOR JUDGEMENT IN ATTEMPTING AN OPERATION BEYOND HIS EXPERIENCE AND ABILITY, WHICH RESULTED IN HIS FAILURE TO ATTAIN AN ADEQUATE CLIMB PROFILE NECESSARY FOR TERRAIN CLEARANCE. ALSO, THE OWNER/PILOT LACKED INSTRUMENT EXPERIENCE, AND WAS OVERCONFIDENT IN HIS ABILITY. FACTORS IN THE ACCIDENT WERE: THE HILLY TERRAIN AND WEATHER CONDITIONS.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 24, 1992 · about 5:30 pm local time
- Place
- Monterey, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 3 people were killed.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 421B · all 421Bs on the register
- Registration
- N628RJ · registry record · serial 421B-0028
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE 3 OCCUPANTS ABOARD WERE: THE OWNER IN THE LEFT FRONT SEAT, HIS WIFE IN THE RIGHT FRONT SEAT, AND A MAN HIRED BY THE OWNER TO FLY THE AIRPLANE (SEAT LOCATION COULD NOT BE DETERMINED). PRIOR TO TAKEOFF A MAN TELEPHONED FSS FOR A WEATHER BRIEFING AND TO FILE AN IFR FLIGHT PLAN. HE TOLD FSS THE PILOT'S NAME WAS J. HAMLETT; A J. HAMLETT WAS NOT ABOARD (IT WAS FOUND LATER THAT HAMLETT WAS THE MAIDEN NAME OF THE WIFE OF THE MAN HIRED TO FLY THE AIRPLANE). TWO MINUTES AFTER TAKEOFF THE PILOT WAS TOLD TO CONTACT DEPARTURE; THE PILOT ACKNOWLEDGED. THIS WAS THE LAST RECORDED RADIO CONTACT. THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH A HILL OBSCURED BY GROUND FOG ABOUT 3 MI EAST OF THE AIRPORT. THE MAN HIRED TO FLY THE AIRPLANE DID NOT POSSESS AN AIRMAN CERTIFICATE; HIS CERTIFICATE WAS REVOKED 2 YEARS PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT. THE OWNER HAD OBTAINED HIS PRIVATE CERTIFICATE FOR AIRPLANE SINGLE-ENGINE LAND ABOUT 1 MONTH PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT, AND HAD NOT RECEIVED ANY MULTI-ENGINE INSTRUCTION.
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: 75 hours in all; 10 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded, January 2, 2000
- Maximum gross weight: 7,200 lb
- Seats: 7
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental GTSIO-520H (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
- Operator: Judith Rea Enterprises
The flight
- Departed from: MRY at 5:27 pm
- Destination: TUS Tucson AZ
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 310° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 2 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded
- Temperature: 57°F (14°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 5:46 pm from MRY, 3 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 | |||
| 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.