Cessna 172 accident near Ramona, California, April 24, 1998
On April 24, 1998 at about 10:15 pm local time, a Cessna 172, registered N8364L, was destroyed in an accident near Ramona, California (Ramona airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The loss of control of the aircraft on final approach for undetermined reasons.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 24, 1998 · about 10:15 pm local time
- Place
- Ramona, California · Ramona · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172 · all 172s on the register
- Registration
- N8364L · no longer on the register · serial 17256564
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
Witnesses reported that the aircraft was on a stabilized final approach approximately 300 feet agl when it abruptly and without warning performed a wings level pitchover and dove vertically to the ground. All witnesses agreed that the aircraft did not stall and that it was not in a slip maneuver prior to the pitchover. A witness who was closest to the scene was emphatic that he observed the elevator control deflected nose down as the aircraft pitched over and that the elevator remained in that position until impact. The investigation did not reveal any evidence of a preimpact mechanical failure of the aircraft.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 786 hours in all; 36 in the last 90 days; 22 in the last 30 days; 570 as pilot in command; 109 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,970 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 4, 1998; 58 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E2D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SEE El Cajon CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 27, 4,000 ft by 150 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 270° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 4,300 ft
- Temperature: 59°F (15°C), dew point 46°F (8°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:55 pm from L39, 1 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.