Cessna T303 accident near Prescott, Arizona, July 4, 1993
On July 4, 1993 at about 10:20 am local time, a Cessna T303, registered N9667C, was destroyed in an accident near Prescott, Arizona (Ernest A. Love Field). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 5 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT MISJUDGING DISTANCE AND ALTITUDE DURING A NIGHT APPROACH. FACTORS WHICH CONTRIBUTED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: THE PILOT'S IMPAIRMENT DUE TO FATIGUE EXACERBATED BY ALCOHOL CONSUMPTION, THE DARK NIGHT, AND THE HIGH DENSITY ALTITUDE AND TURBULENT WEATHER CONDITION.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 4, 1993 · about 10:20 am local time
- Place
- Prescott, Arizona · Ernest A. Love Field · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 5 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna T303 · all T303s on the register
- Registration
- N9667C · no longer on the register · serial 200
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE FLIGHT HAD DEPARTED AT 0318. RADAR & COMMUNICATIONS DATA SHOWED THAT THE FLIGHT REMAINED IN THE TRAFFIC PATTERN. THE AIRPLANE CRASHED SHORT OF RUNWAY 21; THE GEAR WAS EXTENDED AND THE FLAPS WERE IN THE FULL-DOWN POSITION. WITNESSES INDICATED THAT THE PILOT HAD BEEN DRINKING BEFORE DEPARTING. THE PILOT'S TOXICOLOGICAL RESULTS WERE POSITIVE FOR ALCOHOL; 11.0 MG/DL (0.01%) ETHANOL CONCENTRATION IN THE URINE.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 550 hours in all; 40 in this make and model; 16 in the last 30 days; 386 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,123 hours
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme, June 28, 1993; 14 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 5,150 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental TSIO-520-AE (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 21, 7,616 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 170° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 46°F (8°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 9:52 am from PRC, 1 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
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.