Cessna 152 accident near Grass Valley, California, August 26, 1985
On August 26, 1985 at about 5:15 pm local time, a Cessna 152, registered N67488, was substantially damaged in an accident near Grass Valley, California (Nevada CO airport). It was an instructional 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
- August 26, 1985 · about 5:15 pm local time
- Place
- Grass Valley, California · Nevada CO · 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
- N67488 · no longer on the register · serial 15281862
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
AT THE CONCLUSION OF A LOCAL SOLO INSTRUCTIONAL FLT, THE PLT LOST CONTROL DURING A GO AROUND ATTEMPT AND CRASHED OFF THE LEFT SIDE OF THE RUNWAY. WHILE APPROACHING THE AIRPORT, THE PLT SAID THE UNICOM ADVISED THE WINDS AS LIGHT AND VARIABLE. ON SHORT FINAL FOR RWY 7, PLT SAID A '25 KT CROSS WIND' GUST BEGAN DRIFTING THE AIRCRAFT OFF THE RUNWAY AND HE INITIATED A GO AROUND. AFTER ADDING FULL POWER, PLT SAID HE 'LIFTED THE NOSE TOO HIGH, DID NOT HAVE ENOUGH RIGHT RUDDER AND THE AIRCRAFT VEERED OFF THE LEFT SIDE OF THE RUNWAY AND CRASHED.
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: 51 hours in all; 51 in this make and model; 19 in the last 90 days; 16 in the last 30 days; 10 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,699 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 10, 1984; 85 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,670 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-L2C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 017 at 4:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 7, 3,920 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 57°F (14°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 4:54 pm from MYV, 21 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.