Cessna 172 accident near Hayward, California, July 2, 1983
On July 2, 1983, a Cessna 172, registered N4957G, was destroyed in an accident near Hayward, California (Haward Air Term. airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries; 6 others were 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
- July 2, 1983
- Place
- Hayward, California · Haward Air Term. · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries; 6 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172 · all 172s on the register
- Registration
- N4957G · registry record · serial 17273504
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT STATED THAT DURING THE TAKEOFF ROLL HE ATTEMPTED TO LIFT THE ACFT OFF AT ABOUT 65-75 KTS INDICATED AIRSPEED. THE PLT SAID THAT HE THOUGHT THE ACFT WAS NOT RESPONDING PROPERLY SO HE CUT THE POWER AND TRIED TO LAND ON THE RWY. THE ACFT KEPT BOUNCING, SO HE ADDED POWER FOR TAKEOFF AND COLLIDED WITH TREES. THE PASSENGER STATEMENTS RELATED THAT THE ACFT VEERED TO THE RIGHT, LIFTED OFF TO ABOUT 4 FT AGL AND BEGAN TO BOUNCE. AS THEACFT PROGRESSED ALONG THE RWY THE BOUNCING BECAME MORE SEVERE UNTIL THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH THE TREES.
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: 76 hours in all; 76 in this make and model; 2 in the last 90 days; 48 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 769 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 3, 1983
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-H2AD (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: HWD Hayward CA
- Destination: SBA Santa Barbara CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 28L, 5,156 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 260° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded at 1,300 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Observation at 1:50 am from HWD, 1 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | 3 | ||
| Passengers | 1 | 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.