Cessna P206B accident near Desert Center, California, July 4, 1997
On July 4, 1997 at about 9:00 pm local time, a Cessna P206B, registered N4733F, was destroyed in an accident near Desert Center, California (Desert Center airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's unexpected encounter with dust devils during the takeoff ground roll.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 4, 1997 · about 9:00 pm local time
- Place
- Desert Center, California · Desert Center · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna P206B · all P206Bs on the register
- Registration
- N4733F · no longer on the register · serial 0333
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
Prior to liftoff the aircraft was pushed off the runway by a gust of wind. After departing the runway, the aircraft struck a bush and was consumed by the ensuing fire. While departing from the accident site, the pilot noticed three dust devils moving away from the runway and two dust devils traveling toward the runway. This weather phenomena is common during the summer months, and is not associated with the any specific wind condition.
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: 550 hours in all; 450 in this make and model; 10 in the last 90 days; 5 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,200 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 1, 1997
- Maximum gross weight: 3,200 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental IO-520 (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: L35 Big Bear Lake CA at 4:30 pm
- Destination: L64
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 5, 4,200 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 40 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 25,000 ft
- Temperature: 109°F (43°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 9:50 pm from BLH, 31 miles away
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.