Cessna 170B accident near Yreka, California, May 27, 1983
On May 27, 1983 at about 5:05 pm local time, a Cessna 170B, registered N8018A, was substantially damaged in an accident near Yreka, California (Rohrer Field). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 4 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
- May 27, 1983 · about 5:05 pm local time
- Place
- Yreka, California · Rohrer Field · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 170B · all 170Bs on the register
- Registration
- N8018A · registry record · serial 20870
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT LANDED AT THE MONTAGUE ARPT FOR FUEL, BUT FUEL WAS NOT AVAILABLE, SO HE PROCEEDED TO ROHRER FIELD WHERE 18 GAL WAS ONLOADED. DURING TAKEOFF WITH A DENSITY ALT OF APRX 4200 FT, HE LIFTED OFF AFTER USING APRX 2/3 OF THE 3360 FT RWY. HE REPORTED THAT AT THAT TIME, HE SAW HIGH POWER LINES BEYOND THE END OF THE RWY. FULL FLAPS (40 DEGS) WERE EXTENDED TO OBTAIN ADDITIONAL LIFT. HOWEVER, WHEN THE PLT SAW THAT HE WOULD NOT CLEAR OVER THE 120 FT POWER LINES, HE ELECTED TO FLY UNDER THEM. HE THEN SAW A LOWER TRANSMISSION LINE & STARTED A SHALLOW LEFT TURN. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE ACFT SETTLED TO THE GROUND & COLLIDED WITH A FENCE BEFORE COMING TO REST. THE MAX LIFT OVER DRAG CONFIGURATION FOR THE CESSNA 170B IS 20 DEG OF FLAP EXTENSION.
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: 527 hours in all; 362 in this make and model; 22 in the last 90 days; 527 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,684 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 24, 1983; 22 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,200 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-300 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: 59S Vancouver WA
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 14, 3,360 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 40 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 50°F (10°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 4:45 pm from STY, 4 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
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.