Cessna 152 accident near San Luis Obispo, California, March 4, 1986
On March 4, 1986 at about 11:03 pm local time, a Cessna 152, registered N49429, was substantially damaged in an accident near San Luis Obispo, California (San Luis Obispo 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
- March 4, 1986 · about 11:03 pm local time
- Place
- San Luis Obispo, California · San Luis Obispo
- 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
- N49429 · no longer on the register · serial 15281259
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
ON MARCH 4, 1986 A CESSNA 152 COLLIDED WITH THE RUNWAY SURFACE AFTER THE NOSE WHEEL COLLAPSED. THE STUDENT PILOT WAS ON HIS THIRD CONSECUTIVE SOLO FLIGHT SINCE HIS SOLO ENDORSEMENT. ON HIS THIRD APPROACH THE AIRCRAFT BOUNCED ON LANDING AND BECAME AIRBORNE WITH A NOSE HIGH ATTITUDE. HE APPLIED FORWARD PRESSURE ON THE YOKE TO LEVEL THE NOSE AND THE AIRCRAFT LANDED ON THE NOSE WHEEL AND BEGAN TO PORPOISE. ON THE THIRD OSCILLATION THE NOSE WHEEL COLLAPSED AND THE AIRCRAFT CAME TO AN ABRUPT STOP. THE INSTRUCTOR PILOT WAS A NEW CFII WITH LESS THAN 1000 HOURS FLIGHT EXPERIENCE WHO HAD JUST RECEIVED HIS RATING THREE MONTHS AGO. HE HAD CHECKED THE WEATHER AND BRIEFED THE STUDENT PILOT PRIOR TO THE FLIGHT.
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: 16 hours in all; 16 in this make and model; 16 in the last 90 days; 5 in the last 30 days; 3 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,381 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 3, 1985; 3 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,670 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-L2C (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Coastal Air INC.
The flight
- Departed from: SBP San Luis Obispo CA at 10:15 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 29, 4,799 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 310° at 10 knots, gusting 18
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 66°F (19°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 11:03 pm from PRB, 26 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.