Cessna T337H accident near Douglas City, California, October 28, 1994
On October 28, 1994 at about 2:20 am local time, a Cessna T337H, registered N1497S, was destroyed in an accident near Douglas City, California. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The improper in-flight decision of the pilot to fly in dark night time conditions in mountainous terrain during adverse weather conditions.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 28, 1994 · about 2:20 am local time
- Place
- Douglas City, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Cessna T337H · all T337Hs on the register
- Registration
- N1497S · no longer on the register · serial 01929
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE AIRCRAFT COLLIDED WITH A TREE IN MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN DURING NIGHT INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS. THE PILOT DIVERTED FROM HIS PLANNED DESTINATION AFTER ENCOUNTERING ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS. THE NON-INSTRUMENT RATED PILOT WAS FLYING LOW IN MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN WHEN HE ENCOUNTERED RAIN, LOW CLOUDS, AND GUSTING WIND CONDITIONS. A HIGHWAY PATROL OFFICER, WHO IS ALSO A LICENSED PILOT, REPORTED THE WEATHER IN THE AREA AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT AS IMC. THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE FOUND OF MECHANICAL FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION WITH THE AIRPLANE.
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: 6,200 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 15, 1994
- Maximum gross weight: 4,630 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental TSIO-360-HB (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: AUN Auburn CA at 2:00 am
- Destination: O85 Redding CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 210° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 7,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 52°F (11°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 3:50 am from RDD, 30 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.
Other NTSB records under N1497S 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.