Cessna T337G accident near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, October 19, 1989
On October 19, 1989 at about 2:36 am local time, a Cessna T337G, registered N197, was destroyed in an accident near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (Allegheny CO airport). 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 PILOT'S IMPROPER IN-FLIGHT PLANNING AND DECISION, AND DIVERTING OF HIS ATTENTION, WHICH RESULTED IN FUEL EXHAUSTION TO BOTH ENGINES. DARKNESS AND TREES IN THE EMERGENCY LANDING AREA WERE RELATED FACTORS.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 19, 1989 · about 2:36 am local time
- Place
- Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania · Allegheny CO · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna T337G · all T337Gs on the register
- Registration
- N197 · registry record · serial P3370203
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT DIVERTED TO ALLEGHENY COUNTY AIRPORT TO AVOID WEATHER AND TO REFUEL. DURING A VECTOR TO FINAL APPROACH, THE LANDING GEAR WOULD NOT EXTEND. FOR ABOUT 1 HR AND 10 MIN, THE PILOT TRIED TO EXTEND THE LANDING GEAR. HE DECIDED TO MAKE A GEAR UP LANDING; HOWEVER. BEFORE REACHING THE AIRPORT, FUEL TO BOTH ENGINES WAS EXHAUSTED. THE AIRPLANE CRASHED INTO TREES SHORT OF THE RUNWAY. AN INVESTIGATION SHOWED THERE WAS A HYDRAULIC LEAK ON THE NOSE GEAR DOOR ACTUATOR AND A SUBSEQUENT LOSS OF HYDRAULIC FLUID. AFTER THE LEAK WAS REPAIRED AND THE SYSTEM WAS FILLED WITH HYDRAULIC FLUID, THE LANDING GEAR OPERATED WITH USE OF THE POWER PACK OR HAND PUMP.
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; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 3,856 hours in all; 2,848 in this make and model; 20 in the last 90 days; 10 in the last 30 days; 3,779 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,700 lb
- Seats: 5
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental TSIO 360-CB-5 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: FTY Atlanta GA at 1:22 am
- Destination: AGC West Mifflin PA
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 090° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 3 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 1,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°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.
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.