Cessna 150G accident near Tucson, Arizona, March 28, 1982
On March 28, 1982 at about 2:30 pm local time, a Cessna 150G, registered N4816X, was substantially damaged in an accident near Tucson, Arizona (Avra Valley airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was 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
- March 28, 1982 · about 2:30 pm local time
- Place
- Tucson, Arizona · Avra Valley · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 150G · all 150Gs on the register
- Registration
- N4816X · no longer on the register · serial 15064866
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING FLIGHT, THE STUDENT PILOT HEARD A LOUD NOISE FROM THE ENGINE AND LANDED AT A NEARBY AIRPORT. HE REPORTED THAT DURING THE LANDING, A GUST OF WIND WAS ENCOUNTERED, THE LEFT WING CAME UP AND THE NOSE VEERED LEFT. AT THAT TIME, THE RIGHT SPINDLE ATTACHMENT BROKE AND THE STRUT DUG INTO THE PAVEMENT AND CAME THROUGH THE FLOOR. THE ENGINE NOISE WAS FROM A BLOWN EXHAUST GASKET ON THE NUMBER ONE CYLINDER. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT THE WIND WAS SHIFTING AND GUSTING TO 15 KNOTS.
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: student
- Flight time: 46 hours in all; 46 in this make and model; 17 in the last 90 days; 16 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,935 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,600 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-200 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: RYN Tucson AZ at 6:15 am
- Destination: RYN Tucson AZ
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 12, 3,000 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 12 knots
- Sky: not recorded; clear
- Temperature: 140°F (60°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
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.