Cessna 152 accident near Compton, California, June 7, 1985
On June 7, 1985 at about 1:08 am local time, a Cessna 152, registered N4874H, was substantially damaged in an accident near Compton, California (Compton airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were 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
- June 7, 1985 · about 1:08 am local time
- Place
- Compton, California · Compton · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 152 · all 152s on the register
- Registration
- N4874H · no longer on the register · serial 15283994
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING A DUAL INSTRUCTIONAL FLT, IN PREPARATION FOR THE STUDENT'S PRIVATE PLT FLT EXAM, THE INSTRUCTOR PLT FAILED TO CONFIRM THAT ADEQUTE FUEL WAS ON BOARD. DESPITE THE FACT THAT THE FUEL GAUGES WERE INDICATING NEARLY EMPTY, THE INSTRUCTOR PLT PERMITTED HER STUDENT TO FLY AROUND THE PATTERN. ON THE FOURTH APCH THE ACFT EXHAUSTED ITS USABLE FUEL. THE INSTRUCTOR PLT ATTEMPTED TO GLIDE TO THE ARPT, BUT CRASHED INTO A TREE 500 FT SHORT OF THE RWY.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 876 hours in all; 509 in this make and model; 128 in the last 90 days; 661 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,582 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, May 1, 1985
- Maximum gross weight: 1,670 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-L2C (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Consolidated Aircraft
The flight
- Departed from: CPM Compton CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 25L, 3,670 ft by 60 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: dawn
- Wind: from 260° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
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.