Amateur-built CASSUTT III accident near Napa, California, April 19, 1993
On April 19, 1993 at about 10:00 pm local time, a amateur-built CASSUTT III, registered N7S, was destroyed in an accident near Napa, California. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE LOSS OF ENGINE POWER FOR UNDETERMINED REASONS.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 19, 1993 · about 10:00 pm local time
- Place
- Napa, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built CASSUTT III CASSUTT II
- Registration
- N7S · registry record · serial 1
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
ACCORDING TO THE PILOT AND WITNESSES TO THE ACCIDENT, THE AIRCRAFT HAD DEPARTED THE SONOMA SKYPARK AIRPORT ABOUT FIVE MINUTES PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT. THE AIRCRAFT INCURRED A LOSS OF ENGINE POWER AND THE PILOT WAS ATTEMPTING TO LAND ON A ROAD WHEN THE AIRCRAFT COLLIDED WITH THE GROUND IN AN ADJACENT FIELD. AN FAA AIRWORTHINESS INSPECTOR EXAMINED THE AIRCRAFT AND ENGINE. HE REPORTED THAT THE AIRCRAFT AND ENGINE APPEARED TO HAVE ADEQUATE FUEL AND OIL. THE ENGINE CRANKSHAFT WAS FREE TO TURN, WITH COMPRESSION AND ACCESSORY GEAR AND VALVE TRAIN CONTINUITY ESTABLISHED. NO ENGINE OR SYSTEM DISCREPANCIES WERE REPORTED BY THE INSPECTOR.
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: airline transport pilot, flight instructor, flight engineer
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 8,240 hours in all; 45 in this make and model; 235 in the last 90 days; 35 in the last 30 days; 4,740 as pilot in command; 2,870 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 617 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 15, 1992; 15 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 880 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-200A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 0Q9 Sonoma CA at 9:55 pm
- Destination: 0Q9
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 260° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 25 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.