Cessna 152 accident near Concord, California, September 25, 1985
On September 25, 1985 at about 10:36 pm local time, a Cessna 152, registered N64981, was substantially damaged in an accident near Concord, California (Buchanan Field). 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
- September 25, 1985 · about 10:36 pm local time
- Place
- Concord, California · Buchanan Field · 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
- N64981 · no longer on the register · serial 15281509
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT WAS OBSERVED TO TURN TO THE LEFT DURING THE TAKOEFF GROUND ROLL ON RWY 32R AT BUCHANAN AIRPORT, CONCORD, CALIFORNIA AND EXIT THE RWY ENVIRONMENT. THE CERTIFICATED PRIVATE PLT REPORTED THAT SHORTLY AFTER APPLYING FULL POWER THE ACFT 'SWERVED' TO THE LEFT AND RIGHT RUDDER APPLICATION WAS NOT SUFFICIENT TO ARREST THE LEFT TURN EXCURSION. THE NOSE GEAR COLLAPSED AFTER THE ACFT ENTERED THE SOFT DIRT ADJACENT TO THE RWY. THE SURFACE WINDS WERE 260 DEGREES AT 12 KNOTS.
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: 108 hours in all; 48 in this make and model; 41 in the last 90 days; 16 in the last 30 days; 24 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ 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 SERIES (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: CCR Concord CA at 11:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 32R, 4,600 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 260° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 11:00 pm from CCR
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.