Cessna 182 accident near Trinity Center, California, June 27, 1982
On June 27, 1982 at about 1:24 am local time, a Cessna 182, registered N759NE, was destroyed in an accident near Trinity Center, California. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 3 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
- June 27, 1982 · about 1:24 am local time
- Place
- Trinity Center, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 3 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 182 · all 182s on the register
- Registration
- N759NE · no longer on the register · serial 18266120
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT CONTACTED THE REDDING, CA TOWER & STATED HE WAS ON TOP & 41 MI FROM THE REDDING VOR. HE THEN REPORTED HE WAS GOING INTO THE CLOUDS & REQUESTED RADAR SERVICE. HE THEN CONTACTED OAKLAND ARTCC WHO PROVIDED ASSISTANCE UNTIL THE PLT STATED HE HAD FOUND A HOLE & WAS GOING DOWN NEAR THE TRINITY CENTER ARPT. RADAR & RADIO CONTACT WERE LOST AS THE ACFT DESCENDED BELOW ARTCC COVERAGE. THE PLT OF ANOTHER ACFT WAS ASKED TO RELAY TRANSMISSIONS & REPORTED THAT THE C-182 WAS OVER THE LAKE LOOKING FOR THE RWY. AT 1812 THE OTHER PLT RELAYED THAT THE C-182 WAS GOING TO CLIMB BACK UP & THAT IT WAS "SQUIRRELY" DOWN THERE. THE ACFT CRASHED IN MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN AT THE 6,500 FT ELEVATION OF A 7,000 FT PEAK. THE WX IN THE AREA WAS REPORTED AS HAZY & FOGGY WITH THE MOUNTAINS OSCURED.
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: 364 hours in all; 24 in this make and model; 6 in the last 90 days; 3 in the last 30 days; 294 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,094 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 94 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,960 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-470-U (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: C San Jose CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 360° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 4,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 167°F (75°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 5:45 pm from RDD, 33 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.