Cessna 172M accident near Goleta, California, August 16, 1990
On August 16, 1990 at about 9:15 pm local time, a Cessna 172M, registered N80981, was destroyed in an accident near Goleta, California. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 3 others were unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE LOSS OF ENGINE OIL PRESSURE FOR UNDETERMINED REASONS.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 16, 1990 · about 9:15 pm local time
- Place
- Goleta, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 3 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172M · all 172Ms on the register
- Registration
- N80981 · no longer on the register · serial 17266824
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PURPOSE OF THE FLIGHT WAS TO ALLOW THE PASSENGERS TO LOOK OVER SOME SAILING ROUTES AND ANCHORAGES AT THE SANTA CRUZ ISLAND. THE PILOT SAID THAT WHILE FLYING OVER THE ISLAND HE NOTED THE OIL PRESSURE WAS SLOWLY DECREASING AND HE DECIDED TO RETURN TO THE MAINLAND. THE OIL PRESSURE CONTINUED TO DECREASE AND FINALLY REACHED ZERO. THE PILOT SAID THE ENGINE SEIZED SHORTLY THEREAFTER AND HE DITCHED THE AIRCRAFT IN CLOSE PROXIMITY TO AN OFF SHORE OIL DRILLING PLATFORM. A BOAT FROM THE PLATFORM RESCUED THE PILOT AND PASSENGERS.
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: 264 hours in all; 18 in this make and model; 6 in the last 90 days; 2 in the last 30 days; 216 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,150 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E2D (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Aaa Flying Club, INC.
The flight
- Departed from: SBA Santa Barbara CA at 8:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 40 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.