Amateur-built GRASS HOPPER accident near Redding, California, June 4, 1983
On June 4, 1983 at about 7:00 am local time, a amateur-built GRASS HOPPER, registered N80546, was destroyed in an accident near Redding, California. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. 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
- June 4, 1983 · about 7:00 am local time
- Place
- Redding, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built GRASS HOPPER GRASS HOPP
- Registration
- N80546 · registry record · serial 46193801
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT CRASHED INTO STEEP MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN UNDER UNKNOWN CIRCUMSTANCES. THE WRECKAGE WAS 50 FEET BELOW A RIDGE LINE IN DEEP BRUSH. THE ENGINE AND NOSE SECTION WERE BURIED TO THE FIREWALL. EIGHT INCHES OF ONE PROP BLADE SHOWED ABOVEGROUND AND REVEALED NO RADIAL MARKS. THE ACFT WAS REFUELED AT MONTAGUE, CA WITH 14 GALS OF FUEL. THE PILOT TOLD THE FBO OPERATOR THERE THAT HE RECENTLY PURCHASED THE ACFT AND WAS TAKING IT TO TEXAS. HE ALSO STATED HE WAS PLANNING TO STOP ATORLAND, CA FOR HIS NEXT REFUELING. THE ACFT DEPARTED MONTAGUE AT 1300 HRS. THE BOYS WHO FOUND THE ACFT ON 6/5/83 THOUGHT THEY SAW IN CIRCLING LAKE SHASTA AT 1600 ON 6/4/83.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 70 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-200 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 105 Montague CA
- Destination: 037 Orland CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: not reported
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°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.
Other NTSB records under N80546 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.