Amateur-built SA-100 accident near Wrightwood, California, October 22, 1983
On October 22, 1983 at about 9:00 pm local time, a amateur-built SA-100, registered N717MD, was substantially damaged in an accident near Wrightwood, California. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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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 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 22, 1983 · about 9:00 pm local time
- Place
- Wrightwood, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built SA-100
- Registration
- N717MD · registry record · serial 1
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT CRASHED IN MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN IN VMC WEATHER. THERE IS NO RECORD OF RADIO COMMUNICATIONS WITH THE ACFT ON THE DAY OF THE ACCIDENT. THE ACFT IMPACTED A 30 DEGREE UPSLOPE IN A 25 DEGREE NOSE DOWN WINGS LEVEL ATTITUDE. TWO WITNESSES SAID THEY OBSERVED THE ACFT FLYING IN A SOUTHEASTERLY DIRECTION. THEY SAID THE ENGINE BEGAN TO SPUTTER AND CUT OUT AND THE ACFT BEGAN A LEFT TURN AS IF TO REVERSE COURSE. THE MOUNTAINS APPEARED HIGHER THAN THE ACFT AT THIS TIME. THE WITNESSES SAID THEY DID NOT SEE THE ACTUAL GROUND IMPACT BUT SAW DIRT FLY UP IN THE AIR. THEY RAN TO THE AREA AND FOUND THE WRECKAGE. THE FUEL TANK AND FUEL LINE WERE BROKEN BUT A COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPUTY REPORTED SEEING AND SMELLING FUEL LEAKING FROM THE FUEL TANK.
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: 310 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 1,200 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-290-G (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 37°F (3°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 8:55 pm from VCV, 17 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number LAX84FA025.