Cessna 175B accident near Blythe, California, July 23, 1993
On July 23, 1993 at about 9:50 pm local time, a Cessna 175B, registered N8264T, was destroyed in an accident near Blythe, California. 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 FAILURE TO SEE AND AVOID THE CABLE DUE TO DRUG IMPAIRMENT. FACTORS WHICH CONTRIBUTED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: THE PILOT'S INTENTIONAL BUZZING, HIS OSTENTATIOUS DISPLAY, AND HIS FAILURE TO MAINTAIN AN ADEQUATE ALTITUDE OVER THE RIVER.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 23, 1993 · about 9:50 pm local time
- Place
- Blythe, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 175B · all 175Bs on the register
- Registration
- N8264T · registry record · serial 17556964
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE AIRPLANE WAS OBSERVED FLYING DOWN THE RIVER, BUZZING VARIOUS ONLOOKERS AT ALTITUDES NO MORE THAN 50 FT ABOVE THE WATER. SEVERAL WITNESSES WERE ABLE TO DESCRIBE THE PILOT'S DRESS AND OVERT MANNERISMS AS THE AIRPLANE FLEW BY. THE AIRPLANE STRUCK A 1-INCH CABLE THAT STRETCHES THE SPAN OF THE RIVER. THE CABLE WAS MARKED WITH WHITE PAINT AT 10-FT INCREMENTS. THE ACCIDENT SITE WAS LOCATED 1 MI NORTH OF A TRAILER COMMUNITY. THE PILOT'S TOXICOLOGY RESULTS WERE POSITIVE FOR BENZOYLECGONINE (0.047 UG/ML BLOOD, 0.092 UG/ML LUNG FLUID, 13.500 UG/ML URINE), COCAINE (0.155 UG/ML URINE), AND ECGONINE METHYL ESTER (0.525 UG/ML 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: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 1,800 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (expired)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 15, 1993
- Maximum gross weight: 2,350 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental GO-300-D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: P20 Parker AZ
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 35 statute miles
- Temperature: 102°F (39°C), dew point 52°F (11°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:55 pm from BLH, 31 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.