Cessna 172PII accident near Richmond Beach, California, June 19, 1983
On June 19, 1983 at about 8:00 pm local time, a Cessna 172PII, registered N54274, was substantially damaged in an accident near Richmond Beach, California. 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
- June 19, 1983 · about 8:00 pm local time
- Place
- Richmond Beach, California
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172PII · all 172PIIs on the register
- Registration
- N54274 · no longer on the register · serial 17274939
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE FLOAT PLANE OVERTURNED DURING A GLASSY WATER LANDING. THE ACFT WAS DAMAGED BUT THE PILOT AND PASSENGER WERE NOT INJURED. THE WEATHER WAS VMC AND NO FLT PLAN WAS FILED. ACCORDING TO THE PILOT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO LAND,THE ACFT CONTACTED THE WATER IN A NOSE LOW ATTITUDE AND TWISTED IN A CLOCKWISE DIRECTION. THE RIGHT FLOAT FILLED WITH WATER AND THE PILOT AND PASSENGER DONNED LIFE VESTS. BOTH OCCUPANTS EXITED THE LEFT DOOR OF THE ACFT. THE ACFT ROLLED OVER INVERTED AND FILLED WITH WATER. ONLY THE BOTTOM OF THE FLOATS WERE VISIBLE ON THE WATERS SURFACE.
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; single-engine sea
- Flight time: 280 hours in all; 13 in this make and model; 18 in the last 90 days; 180 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 642 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, April 18, 1983; 42 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,250 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-D2J (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: WA47 Renton WA at 7:00 pm
- Destination: WA47 Renton WA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 220° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 4,500 ft; not recorded at 4,500 ft
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 48°F (9°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 7:45 pm from BFI, 7 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.