Cessna 182L accident near Santa Paula, California, September 4, 1983
On September 4, 1983 at about 8:05 pm local time, a Cessna 182L, registered N3430R, was substantially damaged in an accident near Santa Paula, California (Santa Paula airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
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
- September 4, 1983 · about 8:05 pm local time
- Place
- Santa Paula, California · Santa Paula · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 182L · all 182Ls on the register
- Registration
- N3430R · no longer on the register · serial 58730
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT REPORTED THAT DURING THE LANDING, HE 'CAME IN TOO FAST & SHARP, BOUNCED 5 TIMES, DID A GO-AROUND & LANDED.' AFTER THE LANDING, HE TAXIED TO A FUEL PUMP, THEN FOUND THAT THE ACFT WAS DAMAGED. THE ACFT HAD PORPOISED TO SUCH AN EXTENT THAT BOTH PROPELLER TIPS WERE CURLED AFT 6 INCHES & THE NOSE GEAR & FIREWALL WERE DAMAGED. APPX 12 MI SOUTH SOUTHWEST AT OXWARD, CA, THE WX WAS, IN PART: 1000 FT OVERCAST, VISIBILITY 1 MI WITH FOG & HAZE, WIND 240 DEG AT 8 KTS.
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: 33 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 2,800 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-470-R (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 094 Rio Linda CA at 2:20 pm
- Destination: SZP Santa Paula CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 22, 2,650 ft by 40 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 240° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 1 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 1,000 ft; not recorded at 1,000 ft
- Temperature: 68°F (20°C), dew point 61°F (16°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 7:45 pm from OXR, 12 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.