Cessna 180J accident near Hayward, California, February 5, 1984
On February 5, 1984 at about 7:10 am local time, a Cessna 180J, registered N52034, was substantially damaged in an accident near Hayward, California. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 4 people were seriously injured. 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
- February 5, 1984 · about 7:10 am local time
- Place
- Hayward, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 4 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 180J · all 180Js on the register
- Registration
- N52034 · registry record · serial 18052453
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING ARRIVAL, THE PLT HAD DESCENDED TO STAY BELOW THE TCA & WAS APPROACHING HIS DESTINATION WHEN THE ENG LOST POWER. HE TURNED BACK TOWARD THE HAYWARD ARPT, BUT WAS UNABLE TO REACH IT OR RESTART THE ENG. DURING A FORCED LANDING AT NIGHT, THE ACFT WAS DAMAGED. THE ACFT WAS EQUIPPED WITH LONG RANGE FUEL TANKS. ABOUT 5 GAL OF FUEL WAS REMAINING IN THE LEFT TANK & BETWEEN 2 & 3 GAL WAS IN THE RIGHT TANK. UNUSABLE WAS 2.5 GAL FOR EACH TANK. NO PREIMPACT PART FAILURE OR MALFUNCTON WAS FOUND.
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: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,390 hours in all; 79 in this make and model; 20 in the last 90 days; 8 in the last 30 days; 1,052 as pilot in command; 28 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,092 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 15, 1984
- Maximum gross weight: 2,800 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-470-R (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: STS Santa Rosa CA at 6:30 am
- Destination: PAO Palo Alto CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 054° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 52°F (11°C), dew point 48°F (9°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 11:00 pm
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
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.