Cessna 172M accident near Willits, California, May 30, 1983
On May 30, 1983 at about 8:00 pm local time, a Cessna 172M, registered N9699Q, was substantially damaged in an accident near Willits, California (Willia Muni airport). 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 30, 1983 · about 8:00 pm local time
- Place
- Willits, California · Willia Muni · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172M · all 172Ms on the register
- Registration
- N9699Q · no longer on the register · serial 17265783
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT VEERED OFF THE RWY DURING LANDING IN A 15 KT CROSSWIND. THE PILOT STATED THAT JUST AFTER TOUCHDOWN HE ENCOUNTERED 'A LEFT QUARTERING TAILWIND GUST MORE LIKE 220 DEGREES AT 10 KTS' WHICH PICKED UP HIS LEFT WING AND CAUSED HIM TO VEER OFF THE RWY. UNICOM HAD ADVISED THAT THE WIND WAS FROM 270 DEGREES AT 5 KTS ACCORDING TO THE PILOT. THE LANDING WAS ON RWY 34. TWO GROUND WITNESSES WITH AERONAUTICAL EXPERIENCE PROVIDED STATEMENTS. THEY SAID THE WIND WAS VARIABLE WITH GUSTS TO 10 KTS. THEY DESCRIBED A HIGH FLARE WITH A BALLOONING EFFECT, THE RIGHT WING DROPPING, THE ACFT GOING OFF TO THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE RWY AND NOSING DOWN.
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: 212 hours in all; 63 in this make and model; 18 in the last 90 days; 18 in the last 30 days; 124 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,652 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 16, 1983; 20 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E3D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: AUN Auburn CA at 6:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 34, 3,000 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 5 knots, gusting 20
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 37°F (3°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
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.
Other NTSB records under N9699Q the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.