Cessna A150K accident near Stonyford, California, July 23, 1983
On July 23, 1983 at about 3:48 pm local time, a Cessna A150K, registered N8353M, was destroyed in an accident near Stonyford, California (Flying S Strip airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. 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 November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 23, 1983 · about 3:48 pm local time · cases in 1983
- Place
- Stonyford, California · Flying S Strip · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna A150K · all A150Ks on the register
- Registration
- N8353M · registry record · serial A1500053
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH THE GROUND WHILE NEGOTIATING A LOW LEVEL AEROBATIC MANEUVER. THE ACFT HAD DEPARTED A PRIVATE RANCH AIRSTRIP AND ACCORDING TO A WITNESS THE ACFT WAS 'ROLLED'. AFTER A FEW CIRCLES OF THE STRIP. THE WITNESS WAS SURPRISED BECAUSE THE PLT HAD SAID BEFORE TAKEOFF THAT THE ACFT WAS NOT SUITED FOR AEROBATICS. A 2ND ROLL WAS ATTEMPTED BUT AFTER THE ROLLOUT 90 DEGREES OFF THE ENTRY HEADING THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH THE GROUND IN A FLAT LEVEL ATTITUDE AND SKIDDED OUT OF SIGHT. THE PLT WAS FATALLY INJURED. HE WAS AN AIR TRANSPORT PLT WITH OVER 12000 HOURS TOTAL FLYING TIME.
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: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 12,274 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 1,600 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-200-A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Stonyford CA at 3:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 5, 2,000 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 120° at 2 knots
- Visibility: 25 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 66°F (19°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:46 pm from CIC, 40 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.
Other NTSB records under N8353M the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N8353M on the register today · the tail number may have moved to another aircraft since
- Cessna A150 232 registered today · the model family and its accident history
- Cessna 72,682 aircraft on the register
- Engine: Continental O-200-A 297 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Accidents and incidents in California 9,080 since 1982 · 1,097 in the last ten years
- California 27,897 aircraft registered
- Other NTSB records under N8353M 1 records · the number may have belonged to another aircraft at the time
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/LAX83LA355.json.
The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.
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 does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.