Cessna 172 accident near Bakersfield, California, May 17, 1982
On May 17, 1982 at about 9:15 pm local time, a Cessna 172, registered N6459D, was substantially damaged in an accident near Bakersfield, California (Bakersfield Airpark). It was a personal 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
- May 17, 1982 · about 9:15 pm local time
- Place
- Bakersfield, California · Bakersfield Airpark
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172 · all 172s on the register
- Registration
- N6459D · no longer on the register · serial 17272810
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE STUDENT PILOT HAD BEEN CLEARED TO LAND AT MEADOWS FIELD BUT LANDED FIVE MILES TO THE SOUTH-SOUTHEAST AT BAKERSFIELD AIRPARK. UPON TAXIING BACK TO TAKEOFF THE LEFT WING COLLIDED WITH A BACKHOE WHICH WAS WORKING ALONGSIDE THE RUNWAY INSTALLING A LIGHTING SYSTEM.
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: 111 hours in all; 111 in this make and model; 19 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,558 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 8 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Air South
The flight
- Departed from: BFL Fullerton CA at 1:53 pm
- Destination: Fort Apache AZ
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 31, 3,200 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 270° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 20,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 199°F (93°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 2:00 pm from BFL, 5 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.