Cessna 152 accident near Julian, California, May 16, 1986
On May 16, 1986 at about 2:15 am local time, a Cessna 152, registered N89357, was destroyed in an accident near Julian, California (Butterfield Ranch). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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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 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 16, 1986 · about 2:15 am local time
- Place
- Julian, California · Butterfield Ranch · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 152 · all 152s on the register
- Registration
- N89357 · registry record · serial 15282723
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH WIRES ON FINAL APCH TO A PRIVATE AIRSTRIP WHILE ON A PERSONAL VFR X-COUNTRY FLT. THE PLT STATED THAT HE WAS CONCERNED ABOUT HIS FUEL QUANITY AND DECIDED TO MAKE A PRECAUTIONARY LANDING AT AN ARPT OTHER THAN HIS DEST. THE PLT REALIZED HE WAS LOST WHEN HE COULD NOT FIND THE ARPT. HE SUBSEQUENTLY CONTINUED TO FLY NAVIGATING BY USING A ROAD UNTIL HE CAME ACROSS A PRIVATE AIRSTRIP. HE SAW A DIRECTIONAL ARROW INDICATING LANDINGS SHOULD BE MADE HEADING SOUTH ON RWY 18. THE PLT ELECTED TO LAND HEADING NORTH ON RWY 36 DUE TO RISING TERRAIN ON THE NORTH END OF THE AIRSTRIP CREATING A DOWNSLOPE LANDING ROLL ON RWY 18. ON FINAL APCH THE PLT NOTICED 30 FT TALL MARKED POWER LINES APPROXIMATELY 200 FT FROM THE RWY THRESHOLD. THE ACFT STRUCK THE HIGHER UNMARKED POWER LINES ON THE SAME POLE AND CRASHED SHORT OF THE RWY.
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
What happened, in order
- IN FLIGHT COLLISION WITH OBJECT during approach - vfr pattern - final approach
- IN FLIGHT COLLISION WITH TERRAIN/WATER during descent - uncontrolled
Pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land, none, none, none
- Flight time: 315 hours in all; 275 in this make and model; 6 in the last 90 days; 2 in the last 30 days; 279 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: class 3
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,301 hours
- Last inspection: type not recorded, November 26, 1985; 11 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,670 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-L2C (piston); 0 hours total
- Operating certificate: in the vicinity
The flight
- Departed from: VGT Las Vegas NV
- Destination: SEE San Diego NV
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 36, 2,000 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 280° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 2,500 ft; scattered at 1,900 ft
- Temperature: 63°C, dew point 54°C
- Altimeter: 29 inHg
- Observation at 5:50 pm from SAN
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number LAX86LA218.