Cessna 182Q accident near Saugus, California, July 4, 2003
On July 4, 2003 at about 5:15 pm local time, a Cessna 182Q, registered N129JB, was destroyed in an accident near Saugus, 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
in-flight collision with terrain for undetermined reasons.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 4, 2003 · about 5:15 pm local time
- Place
- Saugus, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 182Q · all 182Qs on the register
- Registration
- N129JB · registry record · serial 18267251
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airplane collided with mountainous terrain and was destroyed in an ensuing ground fire. The pilot completed several touch-and-go practice takeoffs and landings, and departed for an airport about 20 nautical miles (nm) to the north. Radar data revealed that about 13 nm from the airport, a target made a figure eight maneuver, while gaining about 875 feet in altitude. After completing the maneuver, the target continued in a northerly direction, north of the airport, and then turned to the southwest. The last radar return, which was 0.51 nm southeast of the wreckage site, disclosed that the target flew in the southwesterly direction for about 4 nm. The airport of intended landing was 5.8 nm to the east of the accident site. Weather observation facilities within 20 miles of the accident site reported clear skies and moderate wind conditions. The leading edges of both wings were evenly and symmetrically crushed aft and up. The pilot's injuries precluded any detailed autopsy and limited toxicology testing. Investigators examined the airplane and engine and found no evidence of mechanical malfunction or failure.
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
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 2,200 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,144 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 1, 2002
- Maximum gross weight: 2,950 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Teledyne Continental O-470-U (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: VNY Van Nuys CA at 4:20 pm
- Destination: L70 Agua Dulce CA
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 150° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 88°F (31°C), dew point 57°F (14°C)
- Altimeter: 29.86 inHg
- Observation at 4:51 pm from VNY, 19 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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.