Cessna 152 accident near Marysville, California, June 21, 1986
On June 21, 1986 at about 9:03 am local time, a Cessna 152, registered N4873H, was destroyed in an accident near Marysville, California. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. 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 21, 1986 · about 9:03 am local time
- Place
- Marysville, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 152 · all 152s on the register
- Registration
- N4873H · no longer on the register · serial 15283993
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
AT 0203 PDT, THERE WAS AN ELECTRICAL POWER OUTAGE WHEN A CESSNA 152, N4873H, COLLIDED WITH A POWER LINE THAT CROSSED THE FEATHER RIVER NEAR MARYSVILLE, CA. THE ACDNT OCCURRED AS A STUDENT PLT WAS FLYING OVER THE RIVER AT LOW ALT WITH A PASSENGER ABOARD AT NIGHT. THE WRECKAGE WAS FOUND AT 0519 PDT BY PERSONNEL FROM THE POWER COMPANY. ACCORDING TO THE OPERATOR, THE STUDENT PLT HAD ACCESS TO A LOCKED OFFICE WHERE THE ACFT KEYS WERE KEPT. RPRTDLY, THE STUDENT TOOK THE ACFT WITHOUT AUTHORIZATION. TOXICOLOGY CHECKS PERFORMED AT AN FAA LAB, SHOWED THE STUDENT PLT HAD ALCOHOL LVLS OF 0.205%IN HIS BLOOD & 0.297% IN HIS URINE. THERE WAS EVIDENCE THAT HE HAD CONSUMED A MEDICATION (METHAMPHETAMINE) & COCAINE IN THE PREVIOUS FEW DAYS. A TEST OF HIS URINE SHOWED LEVELS OF 0.067 FOR METHAMPHETAMINE & 0.24 UG/ML FOR BENZOYLECGONINE (A METABOLITE OF COCAINE); HOWEVER, BLOOD TESTS FOR DRUGS & MEDICATIONS WERE NEGATIVE.
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
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,724 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, April 14, 1986
- Maximum gross weight: 1,670 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-L2C (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Sun Runner Air
The flight
- Departed from: 052 Yuba City CA at 8:39 am
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 330° at 2 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 63°F (17°C), dew point 41°F (5°C)
- Altimeter: 28.00 inHg
- Observation at 8:55 am from BAB, 8 miles away
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.