Cessna 150K accident near N. Palm Springs, California, August 14, 1983
On August 14, 1983 at about 2:57 am local time, a Cessna 150K, registered N6379G, was substantially damaged in an accident near N. Palm Springs, California. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. 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 14, 1983 · about 2:57 am local time
- Place
- N. Palm Springs, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 150K · all 150Ks on the register
- Registration
- N6379G · registry record · serial 15071879
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT REPORTED HE ORIGINALLY INTENDED TO FLY APRX 19 MI TO THE PALM SPRINGS ARPT TO PERFORM NIGHT LANDINGS TO ACQUIRE NIGHT CURRENCY. HOWEVER, DUE TO A RADIO MALFUNCTION, HE WAS UNABLE TO COMMUNICATE WITH THE CONTROL TOWER. THEREFORE, HE DECIDED TO RETURN TO HIS HOME IN YUCCA VALLEY. THE PLT ALSO REPORTED THAT HE WAS IN THE PROCESS OF CIRCLING NORTH OF PALM SPRINGS TO GAIN ALT WHEN THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH POWER LINES. IT COLLIDED WITH THE TOP WIRE OF AN INTRASTATE POWER TRANSMISSION LINE, APRX 100 FT AGL, THEN CRASHED. REPORTEDLY, THE PLT'S WIFE WAS WORKING IN A FAMILY OWNED RESTAURANT WITHIN 1/2 MI OF THE CRASH SITE.
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: 200 hours in all; 60 in this make and model; 5 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,214 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 25, 1983; 3 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,600 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-200-A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: L22 Yucca Valley CA at 2:12 am
- Destination: PSP Palm Springs CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: dusk
- Wind: from 360° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 16,000 ft
- Temperature: 104°F (40°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 3:05 am from PSP, 6 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.
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.