Cessna 336 accident near Porterville, California, June 18, 2022
On June 18, 2022 at about 9:54 pm local time, a 1964 Cessna 336, registered N3835U, was destroyed in an accident during enroute (cruise) near Porterville, California. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
Maintenance personnel’s failure to properly secure the elevator control assembly hardware, which resulted in an in-flight disconnection of the elevator and elevator counterweight and the pilot’s inability to maintain pitch control.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 18, 2022 · about 9:54 pm local time
- Place
- Porterville, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 336, built 1964 · all 336s on the register
- Registration
- N3835U · registry record · serial 336-0135
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
Shortly after takeoff, the pilot transmitted over the radio that he had lost “almost all pitch control,” but thought that he would be able to return and land at the departure airport. Automatic Dependent Surveillance Broadcast (ADS-B) data showed that the airplane climbed to about 1,550 ft mean sea level (msl) before entering a descending right 180° turn toward the departure airport. The airplane leveled off about 1,000 ft msl and continued toward the airport. About two minutes later, the airplane entered a descent from 975 ft that continued to ground contact. Witnesses reported that they observed the airplane flying at low altitude when it suddenly descended into the ground in a steep, nose-low, wings-level attitude. Postaccident examination of the wreckage revealed that the bolt, castellated nut, and cotter pin that connected the balance weight to the elevator control assembly were missing. Soot was observed within the area of both connection points, including where the bolt and washer would have been installed, consistent with the hardware not being installed at the time of the accident. It is likely that the bolt separated while in flight, resulting in a loss of elevator pitch control. The missing bolt, nut, washer, and cotter pin were not located. The airplane was painted and returned to service about 28 days before the accident, which included removal and reinstallation of all the flight controls. It could not be determined if the securing hardware (nut and cotter pin) were installed at the time of the reinstallation of the elevator. Toxicology testing of the pilot revealed the presence of ethanol in liver tissue; however, the detected ethanol likely was from postmortem production. Thus, it is unlikely that ethanol contributed to the accident.
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
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during enroute (cruise)
- Flight control sys malf/fail during enroute (cruise) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Flight control system › Elevator control system › Incorrect service/maintenance
- Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Flight control system › Elevator control system › Inadequate inspection
- Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Flight control system › Elevator control system › Not specified
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Maintenance › Installation › Maintenance personnel
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land
- Flight time: 690.3 hours in all; 34.9 in this make and model; 15.8 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,212.1 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 2, 2022
- Maximum gross weight: 3,900 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine 1: Continental Motors IO-360-A (piston); 0 hours total
- Engine 2: Continental Motors IO-360-A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: MIT Shafter CA
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 45°F (7°C)
- Altimeter: 29.93 inHg
- Observation at 2:56 pm from KPTV, 2 miles away
Weather report (METAR): KPTV 182156Z AUTO 10SM CLR 26/07 A2993 RMK AO2 SLP132 T02610067 $
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
14 documents, released by the NTSB on May 9, 2024. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
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.