Cessna 180A accident near Coalinga, California, November 27, 1983
On November 27, 1983 at about 9:00 pm local time, a Cessna 180A, registered N5016E, was substantially damaged in an accident near Coalinga, California (Harris Ranch 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 27, 1983 · about 9:00 pm local time
- Place
- Coalinga, California · Harris Ranch · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 180A · all 180As on the register
- Registration
- N5016E · registry record · serial 50316
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE DEPARTING, THE ACFT BEGAN VEERING LEFT AS THE TAILWHEEL CAME OFF THE GROUND DURING THE TAKEOFF ROLL. IT ROLLED ONTO A HARD DIRT SHOULDER TO THE LEFT OF THE ASPHALT RWY. THE PLT REPORTED THAT HE CORRECTED THE DRIFT BY APPLYING RIGHT RUDDER & THE ACFT REACTED PROMPTLY; HOWEVER, DIRECTIONAL CONTROL WAS NOT REESTABLISHED. THE ACFT REENTERED THE PAVED RWY SURFACE & LATERALLY CROSSED THE RWY. WHILE THE PLT WAS ATTEMPTING TO REGAIN CONTROL, THE LEFT TIRE FAILED FROM EXCESSIVE SIDE LOADS. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE LEFT GEAR COLLAPSED & LEFT WING & PROP WERE DAMAGED. THE PLT BELIEVD THE LEFT TIRE FAILED AS IT HIT THE EDGE OF THE RWY. HOWEVER, AN EXAM OF THE SKID MARKS SHOWED THAT WHEEL RIM DID NOT CONTACT THE RWY UNTIL AFTER THE ACFT WAS SKIDDING IN A RIGHT YAW NEAR THE CENTER OF THE RWY.
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: 3,000 hours in all; 1,730 in this make and model; 7 in the last 90 days; 2,900 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,730 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 18, 1982; 56 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,650 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-470K (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: RHV San Jose CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 14, 2,820 ft by 30 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 040° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 35 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 55°F (13°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.
Other NTSB records under N5016E the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.