Cessna 180 accident near Ocotillo Wells, California, November 26, 1983
On November 26, 1983 at about 10:00 pm local time, a Cessna 180, registered N4509B, was substantially damaged in an accident near Ocotillo Wells, California (Ocotillo Wells airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 3 people were 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
- November 26, 1983 · about 10:00 pm local time
- Place
- Ocotillo Wells, California · Ocotillo Wells · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 180 · all 180s on the register
- Registration
- N4509B · registry record · serial 41055-3-J
- 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 ARRIVAL, HE CHECKED FOR THE WIND CONDITIONS & THERE APPEARED TO BE A LIGHT X-WING OF APPX 5 TO 8 KTS. HOWEVER, WHILE ON THE LANDING ROLL, HE ENCOUNTER AN UNEXPECTED WIND THAT YAWED THE ACFT TO THE LEFT. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE ACFT GROUND LOOPED & THE RIGHT MAIN GEAR COLLAPSED. REPORTEDLY, THE WIND WAS FROM 090 DEG AT 8, GUSTING 20 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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,000 hours in all; 188 in this make and model; 10 in the last 90 days; 1,000 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,650 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 26, 1983
- Maximum gross weight: 2,800 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-470-J (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SEE San Diego CA at 9:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 12, 4,100 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 090° at 8 knots, gusting 20
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
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.