Cessna 152 accident near Guadalupe, California, April 8, 1983
On April 8, 1983 at about 11:53 pm local time, a Cessna 152, registered N5542H, was substantially damaged in an accident near Guadalupe, California. It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. 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
- April 8, 1983 · about 11:53 pm local time
- Place
- Guadalupe, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 152 · all 152s on the register
- Registration
- N5542H · no longer on the register · serial 15284123
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
AFTER PRACTICING A SERIES OF POWER-ON DEPARTURE STALLS AT 3500 FEET, THE PLT CLIMBED TO 6500 FEET AND PRACTICED SEVERAL POWER-OFF APPROACH/LANDING STALLS. AT ABOUT 3000 FEET THE ENGINE SPUTTERED AND QUIT. THE PLT WAS UNABLE TO RESTORE POWER AND MADE AN EMERGENCY LANDING IN A VEGETABLE FIELD. ABOUT 20 GALLONS OF FUEL WAS DRAINED FROM THE ACFT. THE ENGINE WAS TEST RUN AND OPERATED NORMALLY.
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: student
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 20 hours in all; 20 in this make and model; 20 in the last 90 days; 1 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,835 hours
- Last inspection: approved inspection programme, March 31, 1983; 32 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: SBP San Luis Obispo CA at 11:10 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 310° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Temperature: 63°F (17°C), dew point 48°F (9°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 11:50 pm from SMX, 8 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.