Cessna 152 accident near Petaluma, California, December 16, 1984
On December 16, 1984 at about 7:15 pm local time, a Cessna 152, registered N95337, was destroyed in an accident near Petaluma, California (Gnoss Field). 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 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
- December 16, 1984 · about 7:15 pm local time
- Place
- Petaluma, California · Gnoss Field · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 152 · all 152s on the register
- Registration
- N95337 · no longer on the register · serial 15285873
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT DEPARTED ON A LOCAL PRIMARY DUAL INSTRUCTIONAL FLT AT ABOUT 1030 HRS. THE STUDENT WAS IN A PRE-SOLO PHASE & THE LESSON WAS TO CONSIST OF A REVIEW OF HIGH AIRWORK. THE INSTRUCTOR (CFI) HAD RECENTLY BECOME INTERESTED IN & WAS WORKING ON AEROBATICS. AT ABOUT 1115 HRS, WITNESSES OBSERVED THE ACFT PERFORM A 'TIGHT 3 TURN RIGHT HAND SPIN' WITH A RECOVERY AT ABOUT 500 FT AGL, THEN DIRECTLY ENTER AN 'AIRSHOW PERFECT LOOP.' NO PREIMPACT MALFUNCTIONS OF THE ACFT SYSTEMS WERE FOUND. THE CFI'S BLOOD/ALCOHOL LEVEL WAS CONFIRMED AT 0.21%.
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: airline transport pilot, flight instructor
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 6,860 hours in all; 3,010 in this make and model; 200 in the last 90 days; 70 in the last 30 days; 6,550 as pilot in command; 5,000 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 118 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, November 30, 1984; 19 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,675 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-N2C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 056 Novato CA at 6:15 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 40 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:45 pm from APC, 10 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.