Cessna 180K accident near El Cajon, California, February 1, 1982
On February 1, 1982 at about 1:10 am local time, a Cessna 180K, registered N2596K, was substantially damaged in an accident near El Cajon, California (Grass Strip airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 1, 1982 · about 1:10 am local time
- Place
- El Cajon, California · Grass Strip
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 180K · all 180Ks on the register
- Registration
- N2596K · registry record · serial 18053009
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT REPORTED THAT WHILE HE AND A PASSENGER WERE ON A LOCAL FLIGHT, HE ELECTED TO LOOK AT A LOCAL GRASS STRIP NEAR EL CAPITAN LAKE. HE MADE SEVERAL LOW PASSES AND THEN TOUCHED DOWN MOMENTARILY ON A TOUCH AND GO LANDING. AFTER THAT, HE FELT THE SURFACE WOULD BE SATISFACTORY FOR A FULL STOP LANDING. DURING THE LANDING, HE TOUCHED DOWN IN A 3-POINT ATTITUDE AND HELD THE ELEVATOR CONTROL FULL AFT. HOWEVER, JUST PRIOR TO STOPPING, THE MAIN GEAR DUG INTO SOFT TERRAIN AND THE PLANE FLIPPED OVER.
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: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 939 hours in all; 13 in this make and model; 19 in the last 90 days; 835 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,283 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 67 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,800 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-470-U (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SEE San Diego CA at 4:30 pm
- Destination: SEE San Diego CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 18, 950 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; clear
- Temperature: 140°F (60°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
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.