Cessna 152 accident near Sunland, California, April 21, 1985
On April 21, 1985 at about 11:15 pm local time, a Cessna 152, registered N69118, was destroyed in an accident near Sunland, California. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 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
- April 21, 1985 · about 11:15 pm local time
- Place
- Sunland, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 152 · all 152s on the register
- Registration
- N69118 · no longer on the register · serial 15282494
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT GOT HIS PVT PLT CERT 6 DAYS PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT & PLANNED A LOCAL FLT TO A NEIGHBORING ARPT JUST OVER A COASTAL MTN RANGE FROM THE DEP APRT. 9 NM NORTH OF THE DEPARPT, THE ACCIDENT SITE IS ALMOST ON A DIRECT LINE BETWEEN THE DEP & DEST ARPTS. THE SITE IS ALSO 200 FT BELOW THE CREST OF A 5,100 FT MOUNTAIN RIDGE AT THE END OF A CANYON. NO EVIDENCE WAS FOUND INDICATING THAT THE PLT REQUESTED OR RECEIVED A WX BRIEFING PRIOR TO THE FLT. THE WX REPORTS INDICATE THAT BASES OF THE OVERCAST LAYER WERE AT 3,300 FT & TOPS AT ABOUT 6,000 FT, WITH MODERATE TO SEVERE DOWNDRAFTS & TURBULENCE REPORTED BY OTHER PLTS IN THE AREA. EXAMINATION OF THE ACCIDENT SITE REVEALED THAT THE ACFT IMPACTED THE MTN SIDE AT AN OBLIQUE ANGLE IN A CLIMB ATTITUDE.
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
- Flight time: 74 hours in all; 35 in this make and model; 35 in the last 90 days; 17 in the last 30 days; 23 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,323 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, February 27, 1985; 89 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,670 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-L2C (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Pilot'S Co-Op
The flight
- Departed from: BUR Burbank CA at 10:52 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 150° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 3,500 ft; clear
- Temperature: 63°F (17°C), dew point 48°F (9°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:50 pm from BUR, 11 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.
Other NTSB records under N69118 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.