Cessna 172M accident near Lake Isabella, California, November 23, 1984
On November 23, 1984 at about 8:40 pm local time, a Cessna 172M, registered N9589V, was destroyed in an accident near Lake Isabella, California (Kern Valley airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed and 1 person was 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
- November 23, 1984 · about 8:40 pm local time
- Place
- Lake Isabella, California · Kern Valley · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed and 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172M · all 172Ms on the register
- Registration
- N9589V · no longer on the register · serial 17264391
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
ACFT DEPARTED ARPT IN MOUNTAIN VALLEY (ELEV 2,614) GENERALLY DIRECT TOWARD A SADDLE PASS (ELEV 6,500) ABOUT 1 MI NW & ON THE LEE SIDE OF THE VALLEY. TOPS OF THE MOUNTAINS AROUND THE VALLEY AVERAGE ABOUT 7,000 FT MSL. FLT ENCOUNTERED UPDRAFTS DURING CLIMB UNTIL REACHING 6,800 FT MSL NEAR THE PASS WHEN IT EXPERIENCED A STRONG DOWNDRAFT/WINDSHEAR. PLT STATED THAT ACFT WOULD NOT RESPOND TO EVEN FULL POWER APPLICATION & DESCENT COULD NOT BE ARRESTED PRIOR TO COLLIDING WITH TREES. NO WX BRIEFING WAS OBTAINED PRIOR TO FLT. STRONG WINDS ALOFT AT 6 & 9 THOUSAND FT WERE FORECAST, ALONG WITH DOWNDRAFTS, WINDSHEARS & MODERATE TURBULENCE IN MOUNTAIN AREAS.
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: 276 hours in all; 219 in this make and model; 31 in the last 90 days; 10 in the last 30 days; 193 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,525 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 1, 1984; 10 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: L05 Kernville CA at 8:38 pm
- Destination: PTV Porterville CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 7,000 ft
- Temperature: 55°F (13°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 11:50 am from BFL
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.
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.