Boeing A75 accident near Near Bakersfiel, California, January 6, 1982
On January 6, 1982 at about 6:45 pm local time, a Boeing A75, registered N59737, was substantially damaged in an accident near Near Bakersfiel, California. It was a flight of an unrecorded kind under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
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
- January 6, 1982 · about 6:45 pm local time
- Place
- Near Bakersfiel, California
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Boeing A75 · all A75s on the register
- Registration
- N59737 · no longer on the register · serial 75-4828
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT WAS ENROUTE TO LAS VEGAS, NEVADA FOR A BANNER TOWING OPERATION. AS HE PROCEEDED EASTBOUND ALONG HIGHWAY 58, HE ENCOUNTERED FOG THAT WAS FORMING IN THE TEHACHAPI FOOTHILLS. HE INITIATED A 180 DEGREE TURN TO GO BACK, BUT INADVERTENTLY ENTERED IFR CONDITIONS. THE PILOT STATED THAT HE BECAME SPATIALLY DISORIENTED AND DESCENDED AS SLOWLY AS HE COULD, BUT THE AIRCRAFT STRUCK THE SIDE OF A HILL.
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: airline transport pilot, commercial pilot
- Ratings: instrument: airplane; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: glider; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 12,765 hours in all; 195 in this make and model; 183 in the last 90 days; 6,620 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,100 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,200 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental W-670 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Delano CA at 10:00 am
- Destination: Las Vegas NV
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Sky: not recorded
- Temperature: 104°F (40°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Observation at 11:00 am
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.