Cessna 340A accident near Groveland, California, January 23, 1998
On January 23, 1998 at about 1:30 am local time, a Cessna 340A, registered N41NR, was substantially damaged in an accident near Groveland, California (Pine Mountain Lake airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
Failure of the brake line as a result of inadequate maintenance.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 23, 1998 · about 1:30 am local time
- Place
- Groveland, California · Pine Mountain Lake · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 340A · all 340As on the register
- Registration
- N41NR · registry record · serial 0488
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot stated that after touchdown the left brake failed. Examination of the aircraft revealed that flexible duct tubing was in close proximity to the aluminum brake line. The brake line showed evidence of corrosion, and the flexible duct tubing showed evidence of cracking. Further examination revealed that there would have been an insufficient amount of fluid in the left main landing gear brake system due to a leak, which would have restricted the operation of the left brake. The pilot reported that per the aircraft logbook, the brake lines had never been replaced. Documents from the manufacturer state that the pressurization system must be inspected every 200 hours or every year for plumbing condition, security, and loose connections. The brake system, per the manufacturer, must also be inspected every 200 hours or every year for leaks, hoses for bulges, and deterioration. The last annual maintenance performed included an inspection of the brake lines without removal of the structural sheet metal that overlies the pressurization system.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 3,608 hours in all; 218 in this make and model; 16 in the last 90 days; 5 in the last 30 days; 3,607 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 7,543 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 1, 1997; 40 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 5,990 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental TSIO-520-NB (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: WHP Whiteman CA
- Destination: Q68
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 27, 3,625 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.