The U.S. aircraft register, updated daily
Accidents · NTSB LAX85FVG01 · Preliminary: the investigation is not finished

Cessna 152 accident near Lower Lake, California, April 2, 1985

On April 2, 1985 at about 8:38 pm local time, a Cessna 152, registered N4602L, was substantially damaged in an accident near Lower Lake, California (Hoberg airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. 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
April 2, 1985 · about 8:38 pm local time
Place
Lower Lake, California · Hoberg · map
Type
Accident
Injuries
No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
Weather
visual conditions (good weather)
Aircraft
Cessna 152 · all 152s on the register
Registration
N4602L · no longer on the register · serial 15284191
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)

The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record

THE ACFT CONTACTED TREES WHILE ATTEMPTING TO LAND AT HOBERG AIRSTRIP.

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: 130 hours in all
  • Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
  • Seat: left

The aircraft

  • Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
  • Maximum gross weight: 1,670 lb
  • Seats: 2
  • Landing gear: fixed
  • Engine: Lycoming O-235-L2C (piston); 0 hours total

The flight

  • Departed from: TRK Truckee CA at 8:00 pm
  • Destination: Q79
  • Flight plan: none
  • Runway 0, 3,300 ft

Weather at the time

  • Light: daylight
  • Visibility: 30 statute miles
  • Sky: clear
  • Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
  • Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
  • Observation at 8:59 pm from UKI, 30 miles away

Injuries

FatalSeriousMinorNone
Crew1

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 N4602L the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time

1989-04-09LAX89LA154 · accident near Taft, CA · substantial damage · no injuries

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.