Cessna 152 accident near Pala, California, May 6, 2003
On May 6, 2003 at about 7:00 pm local time, a Cessna 152, registered N48796, was substantially damaged in an accident near Pala, California. It was an instructional 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 dual student's delay in executing the proper recovery procedures and improper retraction of the flaps, the CFI's inadequate supervision during the recovery to normal flight, the CFI's delayed remedial action, and the failure of both pilots to maintain an adequate airspeed, which resulted in a stall-mush and collision with trees.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 6, 2003 · about 7:00 pm local time
- Place
- Pala, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 152 · all 152s on the register
- Registration
- N48796 · no longer on the register · serial 15283377
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airplane collided with trees near a rock quarry while practicing a simulated engine out forced landing procedure. When the certified flight instructor (CFI) called for a termination of the maneuver the pilot under instruction (PUI) delayed executing the proper go-around procedures. The student left the flaps at the 30-degree position, and the airspeed got slow enough to activate the stall warning horn. The CFI called for the flaps to 20 degrees and to maintain airspeed. The CFI then called for flaps 10 degrees, but the student retracted them to 0 degrees. The airplane entered an excessive sink rate, and the CFI was unable to recover before the airplane impacted trees.
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
Flight instructor
- 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: 4,500 hours in all; 2,000 in this make and model; 200 in the last 90 days; 100 in the last 30 days; 3,700 as pilot in command; 3,500 on instruments
- Last flight review: August 15, 2002
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: minor injuries
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 216 hours in all; 131 in this make and model; 64 in the last 90 days; 30 in the last 30 days; 155 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: September 19, 2002
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,940 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, April 21, 2003; 28 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,670 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-L2C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: CRQ Carlsbad CA at 5:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 220° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 3,300 ft
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 52°F (11°C)
- Altimeter: 29.97 inHg
- Observation at 6:53 pm from CRQ, 15 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.