Cessna 152 accident near Rosamond, California, June 7, 1984
On June 7, 1984 at about 5:55 am local time, a Cessna 152, registered N5335M, was destroyed in an accident near Rosamond, California. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. 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 November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 7, 1984 · about 5:55 am local time · cases in 1984
- Place
- Rosamond, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 152 · all 152s on the register
- Registration
- N5335M · registry record · serial 15284543
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH RISING TERRAIN AT THE 4200 FT LEVEL ABOUT 3 MILES SOUTH OF ELEVATIONS OF 6800 FT. GUARDS ON DUTY WITHIN A MILE OF THE ACCIDENT SITE SAID THE WEATHER AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT WAS FOGGY WITH A LIGHT DRIZZLE AND NORTHWINDS OF 35 KTS. THE ACFT CRASHED ON A HEADING OF 180 DEGREES, WINGS LEVEL, IN A DESCENT AT HIGH SPEED. THE PLT HAD CALLED ONTARIO FSS AND ASKED FOR PLT REPORTS OF WEATHER OVER LAKE HUGHES AND INTO BAKERSFIELD. THE FSS HAD NO PLT REPORTS BUT ASKED IF HE WAS AWARE OF SIGMET MIKE 7. THE PLT SAID HE WAS. HE WAS GIVEN BAKERSFIELD WEATHER AND TOLD THAT PORTERVILLE VORTAC WAS OUT OF SERVICE. THE PLT ACKNOWLEDGED THIS INFORMATION. THERE IS NO RECORD OF FURTHER RADIO CONTACT WITH THE ACFT. THE ACFT DID NOT ARRIVE AT BAKERSFIELD AND AT ABOUT 1100 PDT THE NEXT DAY THE WRECKAGE WAS SIGHTED ABOUT 19 NM WEST OF ROSAMOND.
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: 100 hours in all; 60 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,158 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 20, 1984; 93 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,670 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-L2C(M) (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SNA Santa Ana CA at 4:37 am
- Destination: BFL Bakersfield CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 360° at 35 knots
- Sky: not recorded
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Observation at 9:30 pm
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.
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N5335M on the register today · the tail number may have moved to another aircraft since
- Cessna 152 1,636 registered today · the model family and its accident history
- Cessna 72,677 aircraft on the register
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-L2C(M) 6,132 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- John Wayne/Orange County · departed from
- Meadows Field · bound for
- Accidents and incidents in California 9,080 since 1982 · 1,096 in the last ten years
- California 28,112 aircraft registered
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/LAX84FA339.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.