Cessna 120 accident near Punta Gorda, Florida, November 6, 1983
On November 6, 1983 at about 7:00 pm local time, a Cessna 120, registered N76932, was substantially damaged in an accident near Punta Gorda, Florida (Charlotte County airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 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
- November 6, 1983 · about 7:00 pm local time
- Place
- Punta Gorda, Florida · Charlotte County · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 120 · all 120s on the register
- Registration
- N76932 · registry record · serial 11374
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT DEPARTED THE RWY WHEN THE RIGHT MAIN LANDING GEAR FAILED DURING LANDING. THE PLT STATED THAT AFTER LANDING THE ACFT PULLED TO THE RIGHT, HE CORRECTED TO THE LEFT AND THE ACFT GROUND LOOPED. INSPECTION OF THE ACFT REVEALED THAT THE RIGHT MAIN TIRE AND WHEEL ASSEMBLY HAD FAILED. INSPECTION REVEALED THAT THE WHEEL FAILED FROM OVERLOAD AND SHOWED BENDING CONSISTENT WITH A SIDE LOADING.
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: 91 hours in all; 9 in this make and model; 7 in the last 90 days; 46 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,262 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 1, 1983; 34 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,450 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental C-85-12F (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 15, 5,000 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 310° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 3,500 ft
- Temperature: 77°F (25°C), dew point 57°F (14°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:50 pm from FMY, 22 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.