# NTSB OAK75AP026: Cessna 414, N414ZM, Chester, CA, December 22, 1974

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: December 22, 1974
- Place: Chester, CA · CHESTER, CA
- Location: 40.3017° N, 121.2325° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Chester, CA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.3017&lon=-121.2325&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Uncontrolled descent](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/650) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 8 fatal
- Status: Completed, report May 15, 1975
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 146467
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=OAK75AP026
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/OAK75AP026

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-4316  74/12/22 NR.CHESTER,CALIF      CESSNA 414          CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             COMMERCIAL, AGE 48, 2773
        TIME - 1507                    N414ZM              PX-  7  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, 385 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          EUREKA,CALIF                WINNEMUCCA,NEV
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           AIRFRAME FAILURE: IN FLIGHT                              IN FLIGHT: UNCONTROLLED DESCENT
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - CONTINUED VFR FLIGHT INTO ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS
           PILOT IN COMMAND - SPATIAL DISORIENTATION
           PILOT IN COMMAND - EXCEEDED DESIGNED STRESS LIMITS OF AIRCRAFT
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - OVERLOAD FAILURE
        FACTOR(S)
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - SEPARATION IN FLIGHT
           WEATHER - OTHER
        WEATHER BRIEFING - BRIEFED BY FLIGHT SERVICE PERSONNEL, BY PHONE
        WEATHER FORECAST - FORECAST SUBSTANTIALLY CORRECT
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          OVERCAST                                                  1500
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          5 OR OVER(UNLIMITED)                                     NONE
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES
          NONE                                                     315
        WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS                                      TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS
           30                                                      IFR
        TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          VFR
        REMARKS- EMPENNAGE SEPARATED.ENTERED OCST ABT 19000FT.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N414ZM](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N414ZM-1975-06-09), registration cancelled 1975-06-09, S/N 4140494, built 1974 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 414
- Registry model: [Cessna 414](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-414) (registry code 2075908) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19741222044299A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19741222044299A), Dec 22, 1974: Cessna 414, Chester, CA, Destroyed, 7 fatal. Empennage separated. Entered ocst abt 19000FT.

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

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