Navion A accident near Ramona, California, January 6, 1982
On January 6, 1982 at about 2:00 am local time, a Navion A, registered N4520K, was destroyed in an accident near Ramona, California (Ramona airport). It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 3 people were killed. 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 2:00 am local time
- Place
- Ramona, California · Ramona · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 3 people were killed.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Navion A
- Registration
- N4520K · no longer on the register · serial NA41520
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED DURING THE FINAL LEG OF A "SHARE THE EXPENSES" COMMUTING FLIGHT FROM HAWTHORNE TO ROMONA, CA, WHEN THE AIRCRAFT COLLIDED WITH THE SOUTHWEST FACE OF MOUNT WOODSON. MARGINAL VFR CONDITIONS PREVAILED OVER THE ROUTE OF FLIGHT. DURING THE FLIGHT AN INSTRUMENT CLEARANCE FOR A CLIMB TO VFR CONDITIONS ON TOP WAS OBTAINED. THIS CLEARANCE WAS CANCELLED WHEN THE PILOT REPORTED ON TOP AT 2500 FEET, AFTER ACKNOWLEDGING FREQUENCY CHANGE TO SAN DIEGO APPROACH CONTROL 7 MILES NORTH OF RIVERSIDE,CA THERE WERE NO FURTHER COMMUNICATIONS WITH N4520K. THE PILOT HAD A HISTORY OF FLIGHT VIOLATIONS AND AIRCRAFT ACCIDENTS.
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; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 11,000 hours in all; 3,000 in this make and model; 1,000 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,245 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 123 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,550 lb
- Seats: 5
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental E-225-4 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Orange County CA at 5:33 pm
- Destination: Ramona CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 27, 4,000 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 230° at 10 knots
- Sky: not recorded; not recorded
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.