Cessna 402B accident near Twentynine Palm, California, October 23, 1983
On October 23, 1983 at about 3:30 pm local time, a Cessna 402B, registered N52LL, was substantially damaged in an accident near Twentynine Palm, California. It was a flight of an unrecorded kind under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was 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
- October 23, 1983 · about 3:30 pm local time
- Place
- Twentynine Palm, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 402B · all 402Bs on the register
- Registration
- N52LL · registry record · serial 402B0525
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT WAS LANDED IN A WESTERLY DIRECTION ON A STATE HIGHWAY. DURING THE LANDING ROLL, THE ACFT'S RIGHT MAIN GEAR WENT OFF THE PAVEMENT ONTO A SOFT, SANDY SHOULDER AREA. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE PLT LOST CONTROL, THE ACFT HIT A BERM & THE GEAR COLLAPSED. THE PLT WAS NOT IDENTIFIED & NO PASSENGERS OR WITNESSES WERE FOUND. THERE WAS EVIDENCE THAT THE CARGO MAY HAVE CONTAINED DRUGS. ALSO, THERE WAS EVIDENCE OF AN EFFORT TO SET THE ACFT ON FIRE AFTER IT CRASH LANDED.
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
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Medical certificate: Unknown
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,420 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 5, 1983
- Maximum gross weight: 6,300 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental TSIO-520 (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: Mexico
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.