Cessna 172N accident near Catalina Island, California, February 21, 1982
On February 21, 1982 at about 4:45 pm local time, a Cessna 172N, registered N4906G, was substantially damaged in an accident near Catalina Island, California. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 3 others were unhurt. 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
- February 21, 1982 · about 4:45 pm local time
- Place
- Catalina Island, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 3 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172N · all 172Ns on the register
- Registration
- N4906G · no longer on the register · serial 17273453
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE CIRCLING AROUND CATALINA ISLAND TURNING IN AN OUT OF CANYONS AT 1700 FEET MSL THE ENGINE LOST POWER. AT LOS ANGELES INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT, 38 MILES TO THE NNW, THE TEMPERATURE WAS 65 DEGREES AND THE DEW POINT WAS 45 DEGREES.ALL ATTEMPS TO RESTART THE ENGINE FAILED AND THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO LAND THE AIRCRAFT ON A ROAD RUNNING ALONG A RIDGE. THE AIRCRAFT RAN OFF THE RIDGE, DOWN A RAVINE, AND CAME TO REST AFTER IMPACTING A TREE.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 2,174 hours in all; 48 in this make and model; 10 in the last 90 days; 2 in the last 30 days; 1,176 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 877 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 108 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-H2AD (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Aviation Facilities INC.
The flight
- Departed from: FUL Fullerton CA at 8:15 am
- Destination: AVX Avalon CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 3 knots
- Visibility: 4 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; not recorded
- Temperature: 149°F (65°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 8:53 am from LAX, 38 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 2 |
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.