Cessna 172RG incident near Santa Ana, California, November 20, 1982
On November 20, 1982 at about 2:00 am local time, a Cessna 172RG, registered N6428V, was involved in an incident near Santa Ana, California (John Wayne airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 2 others were unhurt. 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 incident. 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
- November 20, 1982 · about 2:00 am local time
- Place
- Santa Ana, California · John Wayne
- Type
- Incident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 2 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172RG · all 172RGs on the register
- Registration
- N6428V · registry record · serial 172RG 0689
- Damage
- Not recorded
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE CRUISING AT 6500 MSL DURING A NIGHT CROSS COUNTRY, THE CABIN FILLED WITH SMOKE. THE PILOT DECLARED AN EMERGENCY AND LANDED AFTER SECURING ALL OF THE ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT. THE PILOT REQUIRED HOSPITALIZATION DUE TO SMOKE INHALATION AND AN IRREGULAR HEARTBEAT. INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT THE LANDING GEAR MOTOR HAD CONTINUED TO RUN AFTER THE GEAR WAS RETRACTED ON TAKEOFF. THE MOTOR HAD CONTINUED TO RUN DUE TO A FAILED PRESSURE SWITCH.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 412 hours in all; 141 in this make and model; 26 in the last 90 days; 314 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 479 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 447 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,650 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-F1A6 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SAN San Diego CA at 5:30 pm
- Destination: CMA Camarillo CA
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 19R, 5,700 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; scat at 2,000 ft
- Temperature: 144°F (62°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
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.