Cessna 152 accident near Newport Beach, California, February 26, 1985
On February 26, 1985 at about 10:07 am local time, a Cessna 152, registered N714WJ, was destroyed in an accident near Newport Beach, California. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 3 people were killed. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
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
- February 26, 1985 · about 10:07 am local time
- Place
- Newport Beach, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 3 people were killed.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 152 · all 152s on the register
- Registration
- N714WJ · no longer on the register · serial 15279487
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE STUDENT PLT TOOK OFF ON A DARK NIGHT IN MARGINAL WX CONDITIONS WITH 2 PASSENGERS OCCUPYING THE ONLY PASSENGER SEAT. ABOUT 17 MIN LATER, THE ACFT WAS OBSERVED IN A LOW PASS OVER A PIER AT NEWPORT BEACH, CA, FLYING TOWARD THE OPEN OCEAN. AFTER CROSSING OVER THE PIER AREA, THE ACFT ENTERED A TURN, DESCENDED INTO THE OCEAN, CRASHED & SANK IN ABOUT 40 FT OF WATER. BOTH PASSENGERS WERE FOUND IN THE ACFT. THE PLT'S BODY WAS FOUND ON 3/21/85 ABOUT 4 MI SOUTH OF THE ACCIDENT SITE. NO PREIMPACT PART FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION WAS FOUND DURING THE INVESTIGATION. A WITNESS REPORTED THAT THE ENG SOUNDED FINE PRIOR TO IMPACT. TOXICOLOGY CHECKS OF THE PLT REVEALED HE HAD A BLOOD/ALCOHOL LEVEL OF 0.15%, BRAIN TISSUE HAD 0.2 MICROGRAMS/GRAM OF COCAINE, & LIVER TISSUE HAD 0.4 MICROGRAMS/GRAM OF BENZOYLECGONINE. HOWEVER, THEAMOUNT OF ALCOHOL DUE TO PUTREFACTION WAS NOT VERIFIED. THE PASSENGERS WERE FOUND IN THE ACFT ABOUT 6 HRS AFTER THE ACCIDENT. THEY TESTED POSITIVE FOR ALCOHOL, COCAINE & BENZOYLECGONINE. ACFT ESTD TO BE 124 LBS OVR ITS MAX GROSS WT LMT.
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: student
- Flight time: 38 hours in all; 25 in this make and model; 17 in the last 90 days; 5 in the last 30 days; 13 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,106 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 14, 1984; 27 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,670 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-L2C (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: The Flying Club
The flight
- Departed from: SNA Santa Ana CA at 9:50 am
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 040° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 2 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 800 ft
- Temperature: 54°F (12°C), dew point 52°F (11°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 9:55 am from NZK, 8 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.