Cessna 152 accident near Thermal, California, July 16, 1985
On July 16, 1985 at about 12:00 pm local time, a Cessna 152, registered N6322B, was substantially damaged in an accident near Thermal, California (Thermal airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were seriously injured. 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
- July 16, 1985 · about 12:00 pm local time
- Place
- Thermal, California · Thermal · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 152 · all 152s on the register
- Registration
- N6322B · no longer on the register · serial 15283919
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT CRASHED DURING A NIGHT VISUAL APPROACH WHILE PRACTICING LANDINGS. THE PAX STATED THAT THE ACFT WAS HIGH ON THE APPROACH AND THE PILOT WAS ADJUSTING HIS RATE OF DESCENT WHEN THE ACFT WENT DOWN.
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: 96 hours in all; 8 in this make and model; 44 in the last 90 days; 10 in the last 30 days; 63 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,325 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 31, 1985; 49 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,670 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming 0235L2C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: TRM Thermal at 11:45 am
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 35, 5,000 ft by 35 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 130° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 1 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 25,000 ft; scat at 1,400 ft
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 66°F (19°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 5:47 am from TRM
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.
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.