Cessna A150M accident near Castaic, California, December 31, 1983
On December 31, 1983 at about 6:00 pm local time, a Cessna A150M, registered N7320A, was substantially damaged in an accident near Castaic, California. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 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
- December 31, 1983 · about 6:00 pm local time
- Place
- Castaic, California
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna A150M · all A150Ms on the register
- Registration
- N7320A · no longer on the register · serial 150 0713
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
AFTER THE PLT LANDED ON AN ABANDONED ROAD, THE AIRCRAFT WENT OFF THE RIGHT SIDE, NEAR THE END OF THE ROADWAY, THEN WENT OVER AN EMBANKMENT & NOSED OVER. HE DID NOT SUBMIT AN ACCIDENT REPORT (NTSB FORM 6120.1). HOWEVER, HE TOLD SHERIFF'S DEPUTIES THAT HE MADE A FORCED ON THE ROAD AFTER THE ENG LOST POWER. ACCORDING TO HIM, THE ENG STOPPED WHILE HE WAS PERFORMANING A ROLLING MANEUVER, THEN WOULD NOT RESTART. NO MECHANICAL PART MALFUNCTION OR FAILURE WAS FOUND. APRX 9.5 GAL OF FUEL WAS REMAINING IN THE TANKS AFTER THE ACCIDENT. THE PLT INDICATED TO THE DEPUTIES THAT HE DETECTED A TAIL WIND DURING THE LANDING.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: glider
- Medical certificate: Class 1
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,560 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 1,600 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-200-A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: not recorded
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 090° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.
Other NTSB records under N7320A 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.