Cessna 182P accident near Marysville, California, May 9, 1983
On May 9, 1983 at about 4:15 pm local time, a Cessna 182P, registered N21579, was substantially damaged in an accident near Marysville, California (Yuba County airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people 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
- May 9, 1983 · about 4:15 pm local time
- Place
- Marysville, California · Yuba County · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 182P · all 182Ps on the register
- Registration
- N21579 · registry record · serial 18261727
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING THE PREVIOUS 7 MOS, THE ACFT HAD BEEN FLOWN ONLY ABOUT 2.5 HRS & HAD BEEN PARKED OUTDOORS WHEN NOT IN USE. ANTICIPATING THE FLT, THE STUDENT PLT & HER HUSBAND HAD STARTED THE ENGINE TO MAKE SURE THE BATTERY WAS OPERATIONAL. THE INSTRUCTOR PLT REPORTED THAT PRIOR TO THE FLT, THE SUMPS WERE DRAINED & FUEL SAMPLES WERE EXAMINED, BUT NO WATER OR OTHER CONTAMINATION WAS FOUND. REPORTEDLY, THE ENG FUNCTIONED NORMALLY DURING START, TAXI & THE 'BEFORE TAKEOFF' CHECK & HAD BEEN OPERATING APRX 15 MIN BEFORE COMMENCING THE TAKEOFF. HOWEVER, WHILE CLIMBING THRU APRX 300 FT AGL, THE ENG SUDDENLY LOST POWER. DURING A FORCED LANDING ROLL-OUT, THE ACFT HIT A LEVEE & WAS DAMAGED. AN EXAMINATION OF THE ACFT REVEALED WATER IN THE FUEL SYS. A MECHANIC ESTIMATED OVER 1/2 PINT IN THE CARBURETOR, APRX 1 PINT DRAINED FROM THE RIGHT TANK & APRX 1/2 PINT DRAINED FROM THE LEFT TANK. THE FUEL CAP O-RINGS WERE FOUND WORN & WOULD ALLOW WATER TO SEEP THRU. ALSO, WRINKLES RISING APRX 3/8 INCH WERE FOUND IN THE BOTTOMS OF THE FUEL TANK BLADDERS.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,450 hours in all; 180 in this make and model; 180 in the last 90 days; 1,420 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,018 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 14, 1982; 2 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,950 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-470-R (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 32, 6,006 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 310° at 16 knots
- Visibility: 95 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 55°F (13°C), dew point 36°F (2°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 3:56 pm from MYV, 1 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.