- Date
- July 4, 1988, 16:52 local (23:52 UTC)
- Place
- Mammoth Lakes, CA
- Injuries
- 4 fatal
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Enroute
- Aircraft
- N9HSCessna 320D
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report March 13, 1989
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19880704024789A
- Case key
- 25842
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The pilot executed a left (south) crosswind departure towards higher terrain after departing runway 27; the plt was following a slower single engine airplane that had preceded his departure. Ground witnesses reported that as the airplane approached the higher terrain it entered into a left banking turn. During the turn the airplane's wings oscillated rapidly. The airplane stalled and crashed into the center divider of calif state hwy 395 which is adjacent to & parallels the east/west runway. The post accident airplane/engine examination disclosed no evidence of any preexisting malfunctions or failures. The airplane had exceeded its max gross t.o. weight and it was near its aft center of gravity limits. The plt had complained to his Dr. About episodes of forgetfulness and confusion. The Dr. Recommended that the pilot cease any flying activities until his medical condition was diagnosed and treated. The plt did not heed the drs. Advice.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N9HS
- Reported as
- Cessna 320D
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 320D0028
- Airframe hours
- 2,731
- Engine
- Continental TSIO-520-B, 280 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- J. T. Thompson & G. Sturdevant
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · August 18, 1987 · 37 hours before
- Departed
- MMH · Mammoth Lakes, CA
- Destination
- TOA · Torrance, CA
- Airport
- MMH · Mammoth/June Lakes, runway 27, 7,000 × 100 ft, asphalt
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 52
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine land, Single-engine sea, Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Left
- Toxicology
- Performed
- Flight hours
- 1,789 total · 102 in this make and model · 2 in the last 90 days · 2 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 270° at 20 knots, gusting 30
- Visibility
- 50 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 72 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- MMH, 1 nm away
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.