Cessna 172 and Cessna 152 mid-air collision near Lompoc, California, August 14, 1982
On August 14, 1982 at about 1:35 am local time, 2 aircraft, Cessna 172 (N733HV) and Cessna 152 (N4603L), were involved in a mid-air collision near Lompoc, California. 2 people were killed and 1 person had minor injuries. 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
- August 14, 1982 · about 1:35 am local time
- Place
- Lompoc, California · map
- Type
- Accident · mid-air collision
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed and 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft 1
- Cessna 172 · all 172s on the register
- Registration
- N733HV · no longer on the register
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
- Aircraft 2
- Cessna 152 · all 152s on the register
- Registration
- N4603L · no longer on the register
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative for the Cessna 172 final · quoted from the NTSB record
A STUDENT PLT IN A CESSNA 152, N4603L, WAS DEPARTING FROM RWY 25 WHILE CESSNA 172, N733HV, WAS ARRIVING FROM THE NORTH. AFTER TAKING OFF, THE STUDENT MADE A RIGHT CLIMBING TURN TOWARD THE NORTH, THEN BEGAN ANOTHER TURN TO THE EAST IN ACCORDANCE WITH PUBLISHED VFR PROCEDURES. WHILE THE CESSNA 152 WAS IN THE TURN & CLIMBING THRU 800 TO 900 FT MSL, IT & THE CESSNA 172 COLLIDED. RADAR INFO SHOWED THAT THE 172 WAS ON A SOUTHERLY HEADING. THERE WAS NO FULL TIME UNICOM OPERATOR, BUT A PLT WAITING AT THE UNICOM STATION SAID HE HEARD THE CESSNA 172 PLT CALL TURNING DOWNWIND FOR RWY 25. AFTER COLLIDING, THE 152 PLT MADE AN EMERGENCY LANDING ON ROUGH TERRAIN, BUT THE CESSNA 172 WENT OUT OF CONTROL & IMPACTED IN A STEEP DESCENT. ABOUT 8 FT OF THE 172'S RIGHT WING HAD SEPARATED & WAS FOUND JAMMED BENEATH THE 152'S LEFT WING & STRUT. THE COLLISION OCCURRED APRX 2 MI NORTH OF THE ARPT. THERE WAS EVIDENCE THAT THE 152 CONVERGED ON THE 172 FROM THE DIRECTION OF THE SUN. THE 152 PLT DID NOT SEE THE 172 & BELIEVED THE 172 PLT WAS NOT USING A 45 DEG ENTRY.
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 NTSB's narrative for the Cessna 152 final · quoted from the NTSB record
A STUDENT PLT IN A CESSNA 152, N4603L, WAS DEPARTING FROM RWY 25 WHILE CESSNA 172, N733HV, WAS ARRIVING FROM THE NORTH. AFTER TAKING OFF, THE STUDENT MADE A RIGHT CLIMBING TURN TOWARD THE NORTH, THEN BEGAN ANOTHER TURN TO THE EAST IN ACCORDANCE WITH PUBLISHED VFR PROCEDURES. WHILE THE CESSNA 152 WAS IN THE TURN & CLIMBING THRU 800 TO 900 FT MSL, IT & THE CESSNA 172 COLLIDED. RADAR INFO SHOWED THAT THE 172 WAS ON A SOUTHERLY HEADING. THERE WAS NO FULL TIME UNICOM OPERATOR, BUT A PLT WAITING AT THE UNICOM STATION SAID HE HEARD THE CESSNA 172 PLT CALL TURNING DOWNWIND FOR RWY 25. AFTER COLLIDING, THE 152 PLT MADE AN EMERGENCY LANDING ON ROUGH TERRAIN, BUT THE CESSNA 172 WENT OUT OF CONTROL & IMPACTED IN A STEEP DESCENT. ABOUT 8 FT OF THE 172'S RIGHT WING HAD SEPARATED & WAS FOUND JAMMED BENEATH THE 152'S LEFT WING & STRUT. THE COLLISION OCCURRED APRX 2 MI NORTH OF THE ARPT. THERE WAS EVIDENCE THAT THE 152 CONVERGED ON THE 172 FROM THE DIRECTION OF THE SUN. THE 152 PLT DID NOT SEE THE 172 & BELIEVED THE 172 PLT WAS NOT USING A 45 DEG ENTRY.
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 for the Cessna 172 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,150 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Visilia CA at 5:20 pm
- Destination: Lompoc CA
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 25, 4,000 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 300° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; clear
- Temperature: 149°F (65°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
The factual record for the Cessna 152 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: student
- Flight time: 30 hours in all; 30 in this make and model; 30 in the last 90 days; 10 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,670 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235 (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Pioneer Aviation
The flight
- Departed from: LPC Lompoc CA at 6:32 pm
- Destination: Van Nuys CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 25, 4,000 ft by 150 ft
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.