Cessna 172 accident near Mojave, California, May 8, 1982
On May 8, 1982 at about 11:30 pm local time, a Cessna 172, registered N5111E, was substantially damaged in an accident near Mojave, California (Edwards Air Force Base airport). 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 8, 1982 · about 11:30 pm local time
- Place
- Mojave, California · Edwards Air Force Base
- 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
- N5111E · no longer on the register · serial 17271716
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE THE PILOT WAS BOARDING THE AIRCRAFT, 2 LINEMEN WERE HOLDING THE WINGS DOWN. DURING TAXI, THE PILOT WAS HAVING DIFFICULTY CONTROLLING THE AIRCRAFT. AS THE AIRCRAFT WAS TURNING TO THE RUNWAY HEADING, THE WIND RAISED THE RIGHT WING, THE SPINNING PROP HIT THE RUNWAY AND THE AIRCRAFT FLIPPED OVER. DURING THE WEATHER BRIEFING, THE WIND WAS REPORTED AT 27KNOTS, GUSTING TO 40 KNOTS. THE AIRPORT WAS CLOSED AFTER THE ACCIDENT. BLOWING SAND ALSO REDUCED VISIBILITY TO ABOUT 200FEET DURING GUSTS. A T-33 PILOT CANCELED HIS FLIGHT BECAUSE OF BLOWING SAND.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 320 hours in all; 32 in this make and model; 8 in the last 90 days; 206 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,169 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 71 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-H2AD (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Long Beach Flyers, INC.
The flight
- Departed from: EDW Mojave CA at 3:20 pm
- Destination: Long Beach CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 22
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 220° at 27 knots
- Visibility: 1 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 25,000 ft
- Temperature: 149°F (65°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 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.