Cessna 180 accident near El Monte, California, October 2, 1984
On October 2, 1984 at about 11:08 pm local time, a Cessna 180, registered N4902A, was substantially damaged in an accident near El Monte, California (El Monte airport). It was a personal 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
- October 2, 1984 · about 11:08 pm local time
- Place
- El Monte, California · El Monte · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 180 · all 180s on the register
- Registration
- N4902A · registry record · serial 32299
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
A LOW TIME PVT PLT FLARED THE ACFT WHICH TOUCHED DOWN HARD AND BOUNCED. ON THE SECOND TOUCHDOWN, THE ACFT ENTERED A GROUND LOOP TO THE RIGHT. APPLICATION OF RIGHT BRAKE AND RUDDER DID NOT CORRECT THE SITUATION. THE LEFT WING AND NOSE WENT DOWN & THE ACFT WENT OVER ONTO ITS BACK. THE ACFT WAS EQUIPPED WITH CONVENTIONAL LANDING GEAR. THE PLT REPORTED THAT AFTER HE HAD OBTAINED A PVT PLT CERTIFICATE ON 03/03/84 AND HAD NOT FLOWN AFTER THAT DATE UNTIL THE DAY OF THE ACCIDENT.
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: 79 hours in all; 77 in this make and model; 57 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,385 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 31, 1984; 27 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,550 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-470-K (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: EMT El Monte CA at 10:55 pm
- Destination: EMT El Monte CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 19, 3,995 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 120° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 12 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 5,000 ft
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 11:08 pm from EMT
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.
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.