# NTSB WPR24LA003: Cessna 340A, N121CB, Hayward, CA, October 2, 2023 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report - Date: October 2, 2023, 12:50 local (19:50 UTC) - Place: Hayward, CA - Coordinates: 37.658929, -122.12173 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.6589&lon=-122.1217&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Taxi: Medical event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/850) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 30, 2025 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 3 - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 193184 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR24LA003 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/193184/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=193184 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR24LA003 ## Probable cause The pilot’s sudden incapacitation from effects of a previously undiagnosed underlying heart disease, which resulted in his loss of control of the airplane and subsequent impact with terrain. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Impairment/incapacitation: other loss of consciousness](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02012055): Personnel issues › Physical · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 340A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02012055/cases.md?model=2076405), [All aircraft, 21 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02012055/cases.md) - [Terrain: sloped/uneven terrain](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021017): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 340A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021017/cases.md?model=2076405), [All aircraft, 270 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021017/cases.md) - [Health/Fitness: predisposing condition](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02013035): Personnel issues › Physical · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 340A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02013035/cases.md?model=2076405), [All aircraft, 56 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02013035/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Taxi: Medical event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/850) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 340A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/850/sequence.md?model=2076405), [All aircraft, 63 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/850/sequence.md) - [Taxi: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230); cases with it: [Cessna 340A, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=2076405), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Taxi: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Cessna 340A, 14 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=2076405), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot had just removed the airplane from his hangar and started both engines. While setting up the avionics, the pilot was suddenly incapacitated, and the airplane began to move across a taxiway. The passenger attempted to wake the pilot, but the airplane continued across a taxiway intersection and into the runway safety area before it collided with a swale. The nose landing gear collapsed and both wings sustained substantial damage. Postaccident medical examination of the pilot attributed the loss of consciousness to an episode of abnormal heartbeat due to a previously undiagnosed underlying heart disease. Thus, the pilot’s sudden incapacitation from effects of previously undiagnosed heart disease likely caused the accident. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative On October 2, 2023, about 1250 Pacific daylight time, a Cessna 340A airplane, N121CB, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Hayward, California. The pilot and passenger were not injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The pilot reported that the airplane was parked next to his hangar and that he had just started the engines for the upcoming flight. He turned on the avionics and shortly thereafter lost consciousness. The airplane started moving onto taxiway A and into the runway safety area next to the runway. The nose landing gear collapsed and the engines came to a stop. The pilot woke up at the accident site and shut off the fuel and avionics. The pilot’s wife, who was the passenger, attempted to wake him up while the airplane was in motion. On arrival to the emergency department, the pilot was awake and alert with no recollection of the event. He denied any prior chest pain or dizziness. He did report that in February 2023, about 8 months before the accident, he had been evaluated for an acute illness and had undergone an ECG that had been abnormal. He had been referred for a cardiac stress test by his primary care physician but had not completed it by the time the accident occurred. The pilot, who held a Class 3 medical certification from the FAA without waivers, was evaluated by a cardiology provider in the emergency department, who reviewed the ECG and noted findings consistent with a possible previous heart attack but saw no definitive changes indicating a current heart attack. The cardiology provider documented that the pilot’s elevated troponin was likely the result of a recent arrhythmia, as the pilot did not have a history of chest pain. The cardiology provider stated that it seemed likely that the syncopal episode was the result of some kind of acute arrhythmia. The pilot was admitted to the hospital for monitoring overnight and discharged with follow-up appointments the next day. On follow-up with the cardiologist, the pilot underwent a cardiology evaluation that included a Holter monitor, cardiac MRI, stress test, and cardiac catheterization. The catheterization found significant coronary artery narrowing that was treated with percutaneous transcatheter angioplasty and placement of a coronary artery stent. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N121CB](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N121CB), registered now, S/N 340A0087, built 1976 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 340A - Registry model: [Cessna 340A](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-340a) (registry code 2076405) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental TSIO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-tsio-520-series) (registry code 17040, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 340A0087 - Year built: 1976 - Engines: Continental TSIO-520 325 horsepower reciprocating; Continental TSIO-520 325 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, September 22, 2023, 6 hours before - Destination: KMRY, Monterey, CA - Airport: KHWD, Hayward Executive Airport - Equipment: Electronic multifunction display, Electronic primary flight display, Stall warning system, ADS-B, Auto-pilot, Electronic flight bag or handheld device ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 70; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review March 15, 2022; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 2,135 total, 304 in this make and model, 29 in the last 90 days, 3.8 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 270° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 52 °F - Altimeter: 30.04 inHg - Icing: Unknown - Turbulence: Unknown - Observed at: KHWD - METAR: KHWD 021954Z 27007KT 10SM CLR 21/11 A3004 RMK AO2 SLP180 T02060111 ## 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 20231002020729A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20231002020729A), Oct 2, 2023: Cessna 340A, Hayward, CA, Substantial damage. On 10/2/2023 at 1859Z, N121CB had a accident while taxing. According to the pilot[privacy data omitted] and his [privacy data omitted] they were heading to… ## Docket (7 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 30, 2025, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=193184. 130 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 3.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16491729&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Hayward executive airport-accident report (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 1.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16356370&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Hayward%20Executive%20Airport-Accident%20Report_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Vehicle dash cam view-video (item 3, MP4, 36.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16356672&FileExtension=mp4&FileName=Dashcam-Rel.mp4 - Vehicle rear view-video (item 4, MP4, 86.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16356818&FileExtension=mp4&FileName=Rear%20Cam-Rel.mp4 - Photo array-courtesy of the hayward executive airport (item 5, PDF, 5 pages, 5 photos, 2.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16356360&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array-Hayward%20Executive%20Airport-Rel.pdf - Email-pilot condition (item 6, PDF, 1 page, 226 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16427821&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=DMS%20Re_%20WPR24LA003-Hospital%20Stay_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Medical factual (item 7, PDF, 6 pages, 146 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19311120&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=WPR24LA003%20Hayward%20Ca,%20Medical%20Factual%20report%20final-Rel.pdf 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.