Cessna 152 and Piper PA-32R-300 mid-air collision near Fullerton, California, August 6, 1983
On August 6, 1983 at about 3:26 am local time, 2 aircraft, Cessna 152 (N6539L) and Piper PA-32R-300 (N1172H), were involved in a mid-air collision near Fullerton, California (Fullerton airport). No one was hurt; 3 people were 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
- August 6, 1983 · about 3:26 am local time
- Place
- Fullerton, California · Fullerton
- Type
- Accident · mid-air collision
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft 1
- Cessna 152 · all 152s on the register
- Registration
- N6539L · no longer on the register · serial 15284429
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
- Aircraft 2
- Piper PA-32R-300 · all PA-32R-300s on the register
- Registration
- N1172H · no longer on the register · serial 32R7780140
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Positioning flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative for the Cessna 152 final · quoted from the NTSB record
N6539L, A CESSNA 152, AND N1172H A PIPER PA-32R-300 COLLIDED WITH EACH OTHER APPROX 2 MI WEST OF THE FULLERTON MUNICIPAL ARPT. AT AN ALT OF APPROX 1200 FT AGL. BOTH PLTS REPT CLEAR SKIES, A BRIGHT NIGHT, AND NO RESTRICTIONS TO VIS. BOTH PLTS STATED THEY MADE BLIND TRANSMISSIONS ON TOWER FREQ PRIOR TO DEPT; HOWEVER, THEY COULD NOT RECALL ANY OTHER ACFT ON THAT FREQ DURING TAXI AND TAKEOFF.
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 Piper PA-32R-300 final · quoted from the NTSB record
N6539L, A CESSNA 152, AND N1172H A PIPER PA-32R-300 COLLIDED WITH EACH OTHER APPROX 2 MI WEST OF THE FULLERTON MUNICIPAL ARPT, AT AN ALT OF APPROX 1200 FT AGL. BOTH PLTS REPT CLEAR SKIES, A BRIGHT NIGHT, AND NO RESTRICTIONS TO VIS. BOTH PLTS STATED THEY MADE BLIND TRANSMISSIONS ON TOWER FREQ PRIOR TO DEPT; HOWEVER, THEY COULD NOT RECALL ANY OTHER ACFT ON THAT FREQ DURING TAXI AND TAKEOFF.
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 152 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,781 hours in all; 719 in this make and model; 329 in the last 90 days; 2,621 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,078 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 15, 1983; 52 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,670 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-L2C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: FUL Fullerton CA at 3:22 am
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 24, 3,121 ft by 75 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: night, bright
- Wind: from 210° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 12,000 ft
- Temperature: 86°F (30°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 2:45 am from FUL, 2 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 |
The factual record for the Piper PA-32R-300 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,751 hours in all; 312 in this make and model; 261 in the last 90 days; 2,571 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,776 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 3,400 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-540-KLG5D (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Arrow Air Service
The flight
- Departed from: FUL Fullerton CA at 5:24 am
- Destination: BUR Burbank CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 24, 3,121 ft by 75 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.
Other NTSB records under N6539L the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.