Alon A2 accident near Afton, California, August 9, 1983
On August 9, 1983 at about 4:45 pm local time, a Alon A2, registered N6512Q, was substantially damaged in an accident near Afton, California. It was an aerial observation flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. 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
- August 9, 1983 · about 4:45 pm local time
- Place
- Afton, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Alon A2 · all A2s on the register
- Registration
- N6512Q · registry record · serial A-112
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial observation flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING AN AERIAL OBSERVATION MISSION, THE PASSENGER BECAME ILL, SO THE PLT ELECTED TO LAND ON A HARD-PACKED STRIP ACROSS A PLOWED FIELD. AFTER LANDING, HE WALKED OVER THE AREA. EXCEPT FOR A RUT AT ABOUT MIDFIELD, HE PERCEIVED THERE WOULD BE NO PROBLEM IN TAKING OFF AGAIN. HE DECIDED TO STAY TO THE LEFT WHILE IN THE VICINITY OF THE RUT DURING THE TAKEOFF. ALSO, THE PLT SELECTED A 'POINT-OF-NO-RETURN' & AN ABORT POINT. A SHORT TIME LATER, HE BEGAN THE TAKEOFF USING SOFT FIELD PROCEDURES. HOWEVER, WHEN HE REACHED HIS ABORT POINT, THE AIRSPEED WAS DECREASING, INSTEAD OF INCREASING. HE ABORTED THE TAKEOFF, BUT WAS UNABLE TO STOP BEFORE HITTING A LEVEL AT THE END OF THE FIELD.
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: 415 hours in all; 350 in this make and model; 42 in the last 90 days; 10 in the last 30 days; 384 as pilot in command; 11 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,800 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 25, 1983; 45 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,450 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental C90-16F (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: WLW Willows CA at 3:35 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 2, 1,500 ft by 25 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 77°F (25°C), dew point 57°F (14°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 2:57 pm from MYV, 41 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.