Cessna 172 accident near Lancaster, California, March 14, 1982
On March 14, 1982, a Cessna 172, registered N7498X, was destroyed in an accident near Lancaster, California (Fox Field). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. 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
- March 14, 1982
- Place
- Lancaster, California · Fox Field
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172 · all 172s on the register
- Registration
- N7498X · no longer on the register · serial 17247998
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
AT 1530 PST, THE PILOT RECEIVED A WEATHER BRIEFING FROM THE LANCASTER FSS. AT THAT TIME, THE WIND WAS VARIABLE, 230 TO 250 DEGREES, AT 20 KTS. THE PILOT REPORTED THE WIND WAS VARIABLE FROM THE SAME DIRECTION AT 22 TO 26 KTS, WHILE TAXIING TO RUNWAY 24. THE TAKEOFF WAS STARTED AT ABOUT 1600 PST. THE PILOT STATED THAT HE WAS AT THE ROTATION SPEED OF 60 TO 65 MPH WITH THE NOSEWHEEL OFF OF THE RUNWAY WHEN THE AIRCRAFT WAS HIT BY A SHEAR GUST FROM THE LEFT. HE STATED THE GUST WAS FROM 180 DEGREES AT 43 KTS. THE AIRCRAFT DEPARTED TO THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE RUNWAY, THE NOSE GEAR FAILED, AND THE PLANE NOSED OVER. AT 1604 PST, THE WIND WAS FROM 230 DEGREES AT 27 GUSTING 37 KTS.
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: 790 hours in all; 423 in this make and model; 29 in the last 90 days; 756 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,974 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 6 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,050 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-300 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: WJF Lancaster CA
- Destination: WJF Lancaster CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 24, 5,000 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 230° at 27 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 2,500 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 138°F (59°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.