Cessna 172N accident near Columbia, California, June 5, 1983
On June 5, 1983, a Cessna 172N, registered N6669E, was substantially damaged in an accident near Columbia, California (Columbia airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 3 people had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. 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
- June 5, 1983
- Place
- Columbia, California · Columbia · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 3 people had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172N · all 172Ns on the register
- Registration
- N6669E · no longer on the register · serial 17272048
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT REPORTED THAT DURING THE APPROACH TO RWY 17 HE USED 30 DEG OF FLAPS AND MAINTAINED AN AIRSPEED OF 55 KTS. WHEN HE WAS ABOUT TEN FEET AGL OVER THE RWY THRESHOLD A STRONG GUST OF WIND UPSET THE AIRCRAFT. HE LOST CONTROL AND TRIED TO GO AROUND. THE AIRCRAFT IMPACTED THE RUNWAY AND BOUNCED UP. WHEN IT IMPACTED THE RUNWAY THE SECOND TIME, THE NOSE GEAR COLLAPSED. THE AIRCRAFT NOSED OVER AND CAME TO REST ABOUT 3000 FEET FROM THE THRESHOLD. A WITNESS TO THE ACCIDENT STATED THAT THE AIRCRAFT APPEARED TO APPROACH THE RUNWAY A LITTLE TOO HIGH AND A BIT TOO FAST AND THE WIND WAS FROM THE NORTH TO WEST. THE WITNESS REPORTED THAT THE INITIAL TOUCHDOWN WAS HARD. THE AIRCRAFT BOUNCED 6 FEET INTO THE AIR, TOUCHED DOWN AGAIN AND BOUNCED 20 FEET IN THE AIR. THE AIRCRAFT THEN APPEARED TO STALL AND IT FINALLY CAME DOWN IN A NOSE LOW ATTITUDE AND FLIPPED OVER. THE WINDS WERE ESTIMATED TO BE 10 TO 12 KTS WITH AN OCCASIONAL GUST TO 15 KTS.
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: 134 hours in all; 27 in this make and model; 2 in the last 90 days; 68 as pilot in command; 11 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,762 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, April 12, 1983; 74 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-H2AD (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Skyway Aviation, INC.
The flight
- Departed from: SQL San Carlos CA at 11:12 pm
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 17, 4,060 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 8 knots, gusting 15
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 | 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.