Cessna 172M accident near San Fernando, California, June 2, 1984
On June 2, 1984 at about 3:00 pm local time, a Cessna 172M, registered N9518H, was substantially damaged in an accident near San Fernando, California (San Fernando airport). It was a business flight 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
- June 2, 1984 · about 3:00 pm local time
- Place
- San Fernando, California · San Fernando · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172M · all 172Ms on the register
- Registration
- N9518H · no longer on the register · serial 17266195
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHEN THE PLT MADE HIS 1ST APCH TO LAND, THE ACFT WAS TOO HIGH ON FINAL, SO HE MADE A GO-AROUND. HE REPORTED THAT ON THE 2ND APCH, THE ACFT WAS TRAVELING TOO FAST & FLOATED FOR A LONG PERIOD PRIOR TO TOUCHING DOWN. DURING THE LANDING, THE ACFT BOUNCED & IMPACTED IN A NOSE DOWN ATTITUDE. THE NOSE GEAR COLLAPSED & THE ACFT SKIDDED TO A STOP ON THE RWY. THE FIREWALL & FORWARD CABIN AREA WERE ALSO BUCKLED.
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
- Flight time: 179 hours in all; 86 in this make and model; 27 in the last 90 days; 15 in the last 30 days; 96 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,932 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 11, 1984; 56 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E2D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: P06 Bullhead City AZ at 5:35 am
- Destination: SFR San Fernando CA
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 19, 2,280 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Sky: scat
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Observation at 8:00 am
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.
Other NTSB records under N9518H 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.