Cessna 172K accident near Huntington Beac, California, May 12, 1982
On May 12, 1982 at about 9:39 pm local time, a Cessna 172K, registered N7394G, was substantially damaged in an accident near Huntington Beac, California (Meadowlark airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was 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
- May 12, 1982 · about 9:39 pm local time
- Place
- Huntington Beac, California · Meadowlark · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172K · all 172Ks on the register
- Registration
- N7394G · no longer on the register · serial 17259094
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT REPORTED THAT WHILE HE WAS ON FINAL APPROACH TO RUNWAY 19, HE APPLIED FULL FLAPS NEAR THE AIRPORT BOUNDARY AND THE AIRCRAFT VEERED TO THE RIGHT. HE SAID THAT THE AIRCRAFT DID NOT RESPOND TO AILERON CONTROL INPUTS. THE AIRCRAFT CONTINUED TO THE RIGHT, AND EVENTUALLY, IT IMPACTED WITH TWO MOBILE HOMES ABOUT 250 FT ABEAM OF THE INTENDED LANDING AREA. AN EXAMINATION OF THE AILERON SYSTEM REVEALED THAT ALL CABLES AND PULLEYS WERE INTACT. THE CABLES WERE IN THE PROPER POSITIONS AND SHOWED NO SIGNS OF UNUSUAL WEAR OR BINDING, AND NO FOREIGN OBJECTS WERE FOUND. ALL FLAP CABLES AND PULLEYS WERE INTACT AND PROPERLY ROUTED.
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; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 1,886 hours in all; 14 in the last 90 days; 9 in the last 30 days; 1,770 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,227 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 10 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E2D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: BFL Bakersfield CA at 1:22 pm
- Destination: Mayville NY
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 13 knots
- Visibility: 12 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; scat at 2,500 ft
- Temperature: 154°F (68°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 3:00 pm from LGB, 8 miles away
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.