Cessna 150G accident near Roosevelt, Arizona, July 9, 1983
On July 9, 1983 at about 4:30 pm local time, a Cessna 150G, registered N8378J, was substantially damaged in an accident near Roosevelt, Arizona (Grapevine airport). It was a personal 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
- July 9, 1983 · about 4:30 pm local time
- Place
- Roosevelt, Arizona · Grapevine · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 150G · all 150Gs on the register
- Registration
- N8378J · registry record · serial 15066278
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH RISING TERRAIN DURING CLIMB TO CRUISE. ACCORDING TO THE PILOT THE FLT DEPARTED FROM AN ARPT WHERETHE ELEVATION IS 2361 FT. THE FLT PROCEEDED TOWARD NEARBY MOUNTAINS WHOSE ELEVATION IS ABOUT 5000 FT MSL. THE ACFT RATE OF CLIMB WAS ABOUT 150 FT A MINUTE. THE PILOT TRIED TO CLIMB OVER THE MOUNTAINS BUT FAILED TO CLEAR A RIDGE LINE AND CRASHED IN A NOSE HIGH ATTITUDE. THE PILOT ATTRIBUTES DENSITY ALT AND FULL LOAD AS FACTORS IN THE ACCIDENT.
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: 116 hours in all; 13 in this make and model; 2 in the last 90 days; 116 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,980 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, May 24, 1983; 57 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,600 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-200-A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: P16 Mesa AZ
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 34, 3,900 ft by 170 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 120° at 11 knots
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 12,000 ft; scat at 8,000 ft
- Temperature: 88°F (31°C), dew point 66°F (19°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 4:00 pm from PHX, 45 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.