Cessna 152 accident near Pacoima, California, July 14, 2006
On July 14, 2006 at about 10:00 pm local time, a Cessna 152, registered N25512, was substantially damaged in an accident near Pacoima, California (Whiteman airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
a loss of engine power due to the failure of maintenance personnel to tighten the top spark plugs, and install the leads for the ignition harness to the top spark plugs.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 14, 2006 · about 10:00 pm local time
- Place
- Pacoima, California · Whiteman · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 152 · all 152s on the register
- Registration
- N25512 · no longer on the register · serial 15280706
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airplane nosed over during an off airport forced landing following a loss of engine power in the takeoff initial climb. The student and certified flight instructor (CFI) departed on runway 14 for pattern work, and made a full stop landing. They taxied back, and took off again. About 150 feet above ground level (agl), the engine lost a little power. They turned back toward the airport. During the turn the engine lost more power, and the airplane could not maintain altitude. The CFI took control, and elected to land in a dry pond. The airplane touched down good, but the nose wheel dug into the soft dirt, and the airplane nosed over. Examination revealed that none of the ignition leads were connected to the top spark plugs. The number 3 cylinder top plug was missing with oil on the upper cowling above the hole, and the top spark plugs for the remaining cylinders were loose, with most only engaged by one or two threads. Two hours prior to the accident flight, a mechanic performed work, including installation of a new left magneto and new spark plugs.
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: 1,834 hours in all; 274 in this make and model; 181 in the last 90 days; 48 in the last 30 days; 1,739 as pilot in command; 1,437 on instruments
- Last flight review: February 1, 2006
- Medical certificate: Class 1
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: minor injuries
Dual student
- Certificate: student
- Flight time: 100 hours in all; 65 in this make and model; 67 in the last 90 days; 8 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 598 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, January 1, 2006; 2 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,625 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-L2C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: WHP Los Angeles CA at 9:50 pm
- Destination: WHP Los Angeles CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 12, 4,120 ft by 75 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 170° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 99°F (37°C), dew point 52°F (11°C)
- Altimeter: 29.86 inHg
- Observation at 11:53 pm from BUR
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | 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.
Other NTSB records under N25512 the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.