Cessna T337 accident near Rialto, California, February 14, 2009
On February 14, 2009 at about 6:00 pm local time, a Cessna T337, registered N86242, was substantially damaged in an accident during initial climb near Rialto, California (Rialto Municipal 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
A partial loss of engine power to one engine during initial climb for undetermined reasons.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 14, 2009 · about 6:00 pm local time
- Place
- Rialto, California · Rialto Municipal Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna T337 D · all T337s on the register
- Registration
- N86242 · no longer on the register · serial 337-1126
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
Shortly after takeoff the twin-engine airplane's climb performance deteriorated. The airplane climbed to 300-400 feet above ground level, then made a right turn. The pilot said that the airplane was not climbing sufficiently to clear the rising terrain that was ahead. He executed a forced landing into a dirt field 1/2 mile north of the departure airport. The pilot did not state that he executed the published engine out emergency procedures before executing the landing. The forward engine propeller exhibited damage consistent with the production of power; the rear engine propeller exhibited very little damage. Investigators were able to start and run the rear engine. Using the flight manual the calculated single-engine performance (rear engine out) was determined to be 550 feet per minute rate of climb.
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
What happened, in order
- Loss of engine power (partial) during initial climb defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Not determined › Not determined › (general) › (general) › Unknown/Not determined
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,801 hours in all; 560 in this make and model
- Last flight review: March 15, 2002
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,842 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 1, 2008
- Maximum gross weight: 4,400 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: Teledyne Continental Motors TSIO360 (piston); 0 hours total
- Engine 2: Teledyne Continental Motors TSIO360 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: KL67 Rialto CA at 6:43 pm
- Destination: KL67 Rialto CA
- Flight plan: not recorded
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds; scat at 3,000 ft
- Temperature: 48°F (9°C), dew point 36°F (2°C)
- Altimeter: 30.12 inHg
- Observation at 6:53 pm from KSBD, 9 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight 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.