Cessna 150G accident near Apple Valley, California, August 26, 1984
On August 26, 1984 at about 7:45 pm local time, a Cessna 150G, registered N76VP, was substantially damaged in an accident near Apple Valley, California (Apple Valley airport). It was an instructional 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
- August 26, 1984 · about 7:45 pm local time
- Place
- Apple Valley, California · Apple Valley · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 150G · all 150Gs on the register
- Registration
- N76VP · no longer on the register · serial 15065547
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE STUDENT WAS RECEIVING INSTRUCTION IN SOFT FIELD LANDINGS & RUDDER CONTROL DURING THE LANDING ROLL-OUT. A DOWNWIND APPROACH WAS MADE TO RWY 18 WHICH HAD A DOWNWARD GRADIENT OF 1.5%. FLAPS WERE USED FOR THE APPROACH & THE ACFT TOUCHED DOWN ABOUT 1/3 OF THE WAY DOWN THE RWY. AS THE WHEELS TOUCHED DOWN THE INSTRUCTOR (CFI) TOLD THE STUDENT TO 'BRING UP THE RPM TO ABOUT 12 INCHES & TO HOLD THE NOSE OFF THE RWY.' ABOUT HALF WAY DOWN THE RWY, HE WAS STILL HOLDING THE NOSE OFF. SUBSEQUENTLY, AS THEY STARTED TO RAISE THE FLAPS, THE ACFT ENCOUNTERED A GUST & THE LEFT WING LIFTED. THE STUDENT ADDED POWER & RAISED THE NOSE. THE CFI STATED THAT HE QUICKLY REDUCED THE POWER & APPLIED LEFT RUDDER & AILERONS. HE SAID THE ACFT BEGAN TO WHEELBARROW, TURNED LEFT INTO THE DIRT & SUBSEQUENTLY NOSED OVER. THE CFI REPORTED THE WIND WAS FROM 360 DEG AT 15 GUSTING 25 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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,060 hours in all; 1,021 in this make and model; 121 in the last 90 days; 761 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,400 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 31, 1984
- Maximum gross weight: 1,600 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-200-A (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Apple Valley Air Service
The flight
- Departed from: APV Apple Valley CA at 9:40 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 18, 6,500 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 360° at 15 knots, gusting 25
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 90°F (32°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.