Cessna 172K accident near Santa Paula, California, August 15, 1985
On August 15, 1985 at about 7:45 pm local time, a Cessna 172K, registered N79504, was substantially damaged in an accident near Santa Paula, California. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were seriously injured and 2 people had minor injuries. 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 15, 1985 · about 7:45 pm local time
- Place
- Santa Paula, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured and 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172K · all 172Ks on the register
- Registration
- N79504 · no longer on the register · serial 17258136
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
ON A LOCAL FLT TO VIEW CAMPING AND HIKING FACILITIES IN MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN, THE ACFT ENTERED A BOX CANYON WITH A MODERATELY RISING FLOOR AND STEEP SIDES REPORTED BY THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT AT ABOUT ONE-QUARTER OF A MILE WIDE. DURINGAN ATTEMPTED COURSE REVERSAL. THE ACFT STALLED AND IMPACTED NOSE DOWN IN TALL TREES ON THE FLOOR OF THE CANYON. SHERIFF DEPT SEARCH AND RESCUE PERSONNEL REPORTED THAT ONLY THE TREES IMMEDIATELY AROUND THE ACFT WERE DISTURBED. ALTHOUGH NONE OF THE FOUR OCCUPANTS REPORTED A CLEAR MEMORY OF THE ACCIDENT SEQUENCE, ONE PASSENGER DID SAY THAT THE 'ENGINE DIDN'T SOUND RIGHT' JUST BEFORE THE ACCIDENT. FUNCTIONAL TESTING OF THE ACFT REVEALED NO MALFUNCTIONS OR FAILURES.
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: multi-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 667 hours in all; 54 in this make and model; 3 in the last 90 days; 2 in the last 30 days; 625 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,827 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded, May 1, 1985; 222 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,150 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E2D (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Venco Pacific Aviation
The flight
- Departed from: OXR Oxnard CA at 6:15 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 240° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 2,000 ft
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 61°F (16°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 7:46 pm from OXR, 18 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 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.