Cessna 172N accident near Huntington Bch, California, September 21, 1985
On September 21, 1985 at about 6:04 pm local time, a Cessna 172N, registered N4840G, was substantially damaged in an accident near Huntington Bch, California (Meadowlark airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 4 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
- September 21, 1985 · about 6:04 pm local time
- Place
- Huntington Bch, California · Meadowlark · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 4 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172N · all 172Ns on the register
- Registration
- N4840G · no longer on the register · serial 17273387
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT STATED THAT HE ABORTED HIS FIRST TAKEOFF BECAUSE OF REDUCED ACCELERATION. HE TAXIED BACK, VIA A PARALLEL TAXIWAYAND MADE RUN-ON TYPE TAKEOFF. HE SAID THAT AS THE ACFT CLIMBED TO AN ALT OF APRX 50 TO 60 FT ABOVE THE RWY HE HEARD A THUD AND THE AIRSPEED DROPPED. HE SAID HIS ALT WAS TOO LOW TO ATTEMPT A TURN FOR THE RWY OR FLY OVER A TWO STORY COMMERCIAL BUILDING AHEAD OF HIS POSITION. HE ELECTED TO FLY THE ACFT INTO A LARGE GLASS WINDOW IN THE COMMERCIAL BUILDING. THE ENG OPERATED NORMALLY DURING A POST ACCIDENT TEST RUN. IT WAS NOTED HOWEVER, THE CARB HEAT VALVE COULD NOT BE MOVED TO THE FULL OFF POSITION. WEIGTH & BALANCE CALCULATIONS INDICATE THE ACFT WAS 174 LBS OVER MAX GROSS WEIGHT AT TAKEOFF.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 245 hours in all; 93 in this make and model; 40 in the last 90 days; 7 in the last 30 days; 185 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,070 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 14, 1985; 1 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-H2AD (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: L16 Huntington Bch CA at 6:04 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 19, 2,330 ft by 36 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 230° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 4 statute miles
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 66°F (19°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 5:45 pm from SNA
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
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.