Piper PA-18-150 accident near Corona, California, July 21, 1986
On July 21, 1986 at about 2:30 am local time, a Piper PA-18-150, registered N83380, was destroyed in an accident near Corona, California. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was 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
- July 21, 1986 · about 2:30 am local time
- Place
- Corona, California
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed and 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-18-150 · all PA-18-150s on the register
- Registration
- N83380 · no longer on the register · serial 1807609108
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT STATED TO FIRE PERSONNEL THAT AS HE APPROACHED TOUCHDOWN, THE SUN GOT IN HIS EYES AND A CROSS WIND PUSHED HIM OFF THE RIGHT SIDE OF HIS PRIVATE AIRSTRIP. THE AIRCRAFT LANDED HARD ON THE RIGHT WHEEL, VEERED OFF THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE RUNWAY, CARTWHEELED DOWN THE SIDE OF A HILL AND CAUGHT FIRE AFTER COMING TO REST. THE AIRSTRIP IS ON TOP OF A RIDGE WITH 30 DEG SLOPES AT THE EDGES OF THE RWY. AS CALCULATED, THE SUN WAS 5 DEG ABOVE THE HORIZON AND ABOUT 21 DEG RIGHT OF HIS CENTER VISION REFERENCE POINT. FIRE DEPARTMENT PERSONNEL SAID THE WINDS WERE ABOUT 45 DEGREES LEFT OF THE RUNWAY HEADING AT ABOUT 17 KTS WITH PEAK GUSTS OF 30 KTS. THE FACTORY FLIGHT TESTED MAXIMUM DEMONSTRATED CROSS WIND CAPABILITY OF THE AIRCRAFT IS 13 KTS. THE PRIVATE AIRSTRIP HAS NO WIND DIRECTION OR SPEED INDICATORS ON THE FACILITY.
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: multi-engine land; single-engine land
- Flight time: 4,300 hours in all; 600 in this make and model; 4,200 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 1, 1986
- Maximum gross weight: 1,750 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-C2A (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: L16 Huntingtonbeach CA at 2:00 am
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 240° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 1:45 am from CNO, 6 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.