Cessna C-152T accident near Fresno, California, March 24, 1986
On March 24, 1986 at about 10:30 pm local time, a Cessna C-152T, registered N49420, was substantially damaged in an accident near Fresno, California (Fresno Air Terminal 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 24, 1986 · about 10:30 pm local time
- Place
- Fresno, California · Fresno Air Terminal · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna C-152T
- Registration
- N49420 · no longer on the register · serial 15281251
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
A CESSNA 152 COLLIDED WITH TERRAIN AFTER RUNNING OFF RWY 29L. THE PLT INDICATED HE MADE A GO-AROUND ON FIRST APPROACH DUE TO DIFFICULTY MAINTAINING RWY HEADING. ON SECOND APPROACH HE WAS ALIGNED A LITTLE LEFT OF CENTERLINE AND ELECTED TO LAND. THE ACFT TOUCHED DOWN WITH THE RIGHT WHEEL ON THE RWY AND THE LEFT WHEEL ON THE SHOULDER. ON ROLLOUT THE ACFT CROSSED A PERPENDICULAR TAXIWAY AND THE NOSE WHEEL DROPPED INTO A SMALL DRAINAGE DITCH. THE WINDS WERE REPORTED FROM 310 DEG AT 7 KTS.
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: 78 hours in all; 74 in this make and model; 17 in the last 90 days; 9 in the last 30 days; 14 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,252 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, May 7, 1986; 92 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,670 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-L2C (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Palo Alto Flying Club
The flight
- Departed from: PAO Palo Alto CA at 7:01 pm
- Destination: FAT Fresno CA
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 29L, 3,902 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 310° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 54°F (12°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 8:36 pm from FAT
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.