Cessna T337E accident near Hillsboro, Oregon, August 13, 1998
On August 13, 1998 at about 5:15 pm local time, a Cessna T337E, registered N78SC, was substantially damaged in an accident near Hillsboro, Oregon (Portland-Hillsboro 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 disengagement of the pilot seat forward and aft movement locking pin, followed by the pilot's seat sliding to the rear of the seat track.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 13, 1998 · about 5:15 pm local time
- Place
- Hillsboro, Oregon · Portland-Hillsboro · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna T337E · all T337Es on the register
- Registration
- N78SC · no longer on the register · serial 33701235
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
While attempting a touch-an-go landing, the pilot's seat locking pin disengaged, allowing the seat to slide to its full aft position. As the pilot tried to get his seat forward while holding onto the control yoke, the aircraft rolled to the left and impacted the terrain. During the investigation it was determined that AD 87-20-03 R2 (seat track visual inspection) had been signed off as complied with on 12/18/97, as part of the last annual inspection. The seat track and locking pin were also inspected by the FAA Airworthiness Inspector who responded to the accident, with no discrepancies found.
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: 260 hours in all; 60 in this make and model; 52 in the last 90 days; 17 in the last 30 days; 137 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,000 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 23, 1998; 60 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,500 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental TSIO-360 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: HIO at 4:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 30, 6,600 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 70°F (21°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.