Cessna 172P accident near Dateland, Arizona, December 6, 1982
On December 6, 1982 at about 10:30 pm local time, a Cessna 172P, registered N55299, was substantially damaged in an accident near Dateland, Arizona (Private airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 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
- December 6, 1982 · about 10:30 pm local time
- Place
- Dateland, Arizona · Private · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172P · all 172Ps on the register
- Registration
- N55299 · registry record · serial 75154
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING TAKEOFF, THE PILOT WAS USING THE RIGHT SIDE OF A PRIVATE STRIP TO AVOID AN AREA OF MUD. AT LIFT-OFF SPEED, THE RIGHT WING TIP STRUCK A POWER POLE NEAR THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE RUNWAY AND VEERED TOWARD AN IRRIGATION DITCH. THE PILOT WAS ABLE TO CLEAR OVER THE DITCH, THEN REDUCED THE POWER BEFORE THE PLANE TOUCHED DOWN IN A PLOWED FIELD. REPORTEDLY, THE PLANE NOSED OVER DURING THE ABORTED 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 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 75 hours in all; 13 in this make and model; 12 in the last 90 days; 31 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 255 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 55 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,220 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-D2J (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Superstition Air Service, INC.
The flight
- Departed from: P16 Mesa AZ at 12:30 pm
- Destination: 048 Little River CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 18, 2,500 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.