Cessna 172 accident near Payson, Arizona, July 16, 1983
On July 16, 1983 at about 1:45 am local time, a Cessna 172, registered N2799E, was destroyed in an accident near Payson, Arizona (Red Creek airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 3 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 16, 1983 · about 1:45 am local time
- Place
- Payson, Arizona · Red Creek · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 3 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172 · all 172s on the register
- Registration
- N2799E · no longer on the register · serial 17271326
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT HAD TAKEN A CHECK OUT IN THE ACFT EARLIER AND AFTER THAT FLT THE FUEL TANKS REGISTERED LESS THEN 1/2 FULL. THE PILOT ADDED 6 GALLONS TO EACH TANK PRIOR TO DEPARTURE. AFTER FLYING ABOUT 1 HOUR, 2 PASSENGERS BECAME AIRSICK SO A LANDING WAS MADE AT AN EMERGENCY STRIP. DURING TAKEOFF 2 HOURS LATER AT ABOUT 300 FT AGL THE ENGINE LOST POWER, AND THE PILOT MADE A FORCED LANDING. THERE WAS ONE-HALF GALLON OF FUEL IN ONE TANK AND THE OTHER TANK WAS EMPTY. THE CARBURETOR BOWL WAS DRY. THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE OF FUEL SPILLAGE OR LEAKS NOTED. NO OTHER DISCREPANIES WERE FOUND IN CHECKING THE POWERPLANT.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 6,859 hours in all; 170 in this make and model; 130 in the last 90 days; 3,581 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,246 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, June 13, 1983; 84 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-H2AD (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Aztec Aviation
The flight
- Departed from: P37 Glendale AZ at 11:05 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 27, 1,930 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 270° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 86°F (30°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.