Cessna 182C accident near Adalanto, California, February 15, 1989
On February 15, 1989, a Cessna 182C, registered N8923T, was substantially damaged in an accident near Adalanto, California (Sun Hill Ranch airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT WAS INATTENTIVE, DID NOT MAINTAIN PROPER ALIGNMENT WITH THE RUNWAY AND DID NOT MAINTAIN AN ADEQUATE VISUAL LOOKOUT DURING TAKEOFF.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 15, 1989
- Place
- Adalanto, California · Sun Hill Ranch · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 182C · all 182Cs on the register
- Registration
- N8923T · no longer on the register · serial 52823
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING THE TAKEOFF GROUND RUN, THE AIRPLANE TRAVELLED TWO TO THREE FEET OFF CENTERLINE. THE PILOT DID NOT CORRECT THE SITUATION WHEN THE AIRPLANE SUDDENLY VEERED SHARPLY TO THE LEFT. THE NOSE WHEEL COLLAPSED AND THE AIRPLANE NOSED OVER. AFTER THE PILOT AND PASSENGERS EVACUATED THE AIRPLANE, THE PILOT NOTED THAT THE LEFT WING HAD CONTACTED A SMALL TREE ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD THAT HE DID NOT SEE DURING TAKEOFF. THE PILOT SAID HE WAS USING A ROAD NEXT TO THE RUNWAY AND INDICATED THAT HE HAD HURRIED HIS DEPARTURE.
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: 1,083 hours in all; 269 in this make and model; 71 in the last 90 days; 26 in the last 30 days; 1,017 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 2,650 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-470-L (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: SMO Santa Monica CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 27, 5,300 ft by 90 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.