Amateur-built HAMLIN accident near Susanville, California, September 4, 1982
On September 4, 1982 at about 9:25 pm local time, a amateur-built HAMLIN, registered N777EJ, was destroyed in an accident near Susanville, California. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. 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
- September 4, 1982 · about 9:25 pm local time
- Place
- Susanville, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built HAMLIN
- Registration
- N777EJ · no longer on the register · serial 478
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING A 2ND PASS DOWN THE RUNWAY AT ABOUT 50 FEET AGL, THE AIRCRAFT PULLED UP TO ABOUT 200 FEET AND COMPLETED OVER HALFOF A ROLL, THEN SPIRALED INTO A LAKE AND WAS DESTROYED. ACCORDING TO WITNESSES, THE ENGINE WAS RUNNING AT ALL TIMES UNTIL IMPACT.
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: 700 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (invalid medical for flight)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,200 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-290 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Susanville CA at 2:05 pm
- Destination: Susanville CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 060° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 60 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; not recorded
- Temperature: 185°F (85°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.