Cessna 340A accident near Dunsmuir, California, February 7, 1994
On February 7, 1994 at about 11:45 pm local time, a Cessna 340A, registered N1362C, was substantially damaged in an accident near Dunsmuir, California (Dunsmuir airport). It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE MECHANICS IMPROPER MAINTENANCE OF THE AIRPLANE'S LEFT BRAKE SYSTEM BY FAILING TO SERVICE ITS HYDRAULIC RESERVOIR. THE LACK OF HYDRAULIC FLUID IN THE LEFT BRAKE RESERVOIR WHICH PRECIPITATED THE LEFT BRAKE FAILURE IS A FACTOR IN THIS ACCIDENT.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 7, 1994 · about 11:45 pm local time
- Place
- Dunsmuir, California · Dunsmuir · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 340A · all 340As on the register
- Registration
- N1362C · registry record · serial 340A0012
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING THE LANDING ROLL, THE LEFT BRAKE FAILED. THE PILOT WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL BY INTERMITTENTLY USING THE RIGHT BRAKE AND THE FLIGHT CONTROLS. WHEN THE AIRPLANE NEARED THE END OF THE RUNWAY AT 30 MPH, THE PILOT INTENTIONALLY GROUND LOOPED THE AIRPLANE BY APPLYING HEAVY RIGHT BRAKE TO PREVENT THE AIRPLANE FROM EXITING THE RUNWAY. THE AIRPLANE PIVOTED TO THE RIGHT AND COLLIDED WITH A SNOW BANK. EXAMINATION OF THE LEFT BRAKE SYSTEM REVEALED THAT THE LEFT BRAKE RESERVOIR DID NOT CONTAIN ANY FLUID. A MECHANIC REPAIRED THE LEFT BRAKE 6 HOURS PRECEDING THE ACCIDENT, BUT DID NOT REFILL THE RESERVOIR.
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
- Flight time: 501 hours in all; 212 in this make and model; 70 in the last 90 days; 50 in the last 30 days; 457 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (expired)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,981 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 18, 1993; 250 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 6,290 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental TSIO-520-N (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: RBL Red Bluff CA at 10:00 pm
- Destination: RGB Roseburg OR
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 32, 2,700 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 37°F (3°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.
Other NTSB records under N1362C the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.