Cessna 172RG accident near San Clemente, California, June 5, 1983
On June 5, 1983 at about 4:40 am local time, a Cessna 172RG, registered N4789R, was destroyed in an accident near San Clemente, California. It was an other work-use flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. 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
- June 5, 1983 · about 4:40 am local time
- Place
- San Clemente, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172RG · all 172RGs on the register
- Registration
- N4789R · no longer on the register · serial 172RG0032
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Other work-use flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT CRASHED ON SAN CLEMENTE ISLAND DURING A FISH SPOTTING FLT ON A DARK NIGHT. THESE FLTS ARE USUALLY FLOWN AT AN ALT OF 1000-2000 FT AGL. A NAVY WITNESS ON THE ACCIDENT ISLAND SAID THE CEILING WAS ZERO AND THE VISIBILITY ABOUT 200 YARDS AT THE ACCIDENT SITE ABOUT 40 MINUTES BEFORE THE ESTIMATED TIME OF THE CRASH. THE PILOT WAS SERIOUSLY INJURED AND THE ACFT DESTROYED IN THE ACCIDENT. THE ACFT WAS NOT FOUND UNTIL 1415 HOURS ON JUNE 5. THE PILOT WAS HOSPITALIZED UNTIL JUNE 11 AND DOES NOT REMEMBER THE ACCIDENT. THE ELEVATION OF THE ACCIDENT SITE IS 1060 FT MSL.
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: 4,388 hours in all; 1,056 in this make and model; 85 in the last 90 days; 77 in the last 30 days; 4,313 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,513 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 1, 1983; 109 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,650 lb
- Seats: 3
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-FIA6 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: TOA Torrance CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 310° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 1,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 59°F (15°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 4:55 am from NUC, 5 miles away
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.