Cessna 152 accident near Apple Valley, California, August 5, 1986
On August 5, 1986 at about 1:00 am local time, a Cessna 152, registered N757QR, was substantially damaged in an accident near Apple Valley, California (Apple Valley airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. 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
- August 5, 1986 · about 1:00 am local time
- Place
- Apple Valley, California · Apple Valley · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 152 · all 152s on the register
- Registration
- N757QR · no longer on the register · serial 15279924
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
A CESSNA 152 OVERRAN RWY 36 AND NOSED OVER ON THE OVERRUN AREA. THE STUDENT PLT INDICATED THAT HE ATTEMPTED THE TAKEOFF FROM MID-FIELD ON RWY 36 WITHOUT TAKING INTO ACCOUNT THE DENSITY ALT. HE ALSO STATED THAT HE ATTEMPTED TO ABORT THE TAKEOFF AFTER REACHING 40 TO 45 KTS, BUT WAS UNABLE TO STOP THE ACFT BEFORE IT OVERRAN THE RWY. THE ACFT NOSE GEAR COLLAPSED WHEN IT COLLIDED WITH A DIRT BANK AND THEN THE ACFT CAME TO REST IN A NOSE DOWN ATTITUDE. THE STUDENT PLT THEN STATED, 'THE PLANE STOPPED MOVING, BUT A STRONG TAILWIND PICKED UP THE TAIL, NOSING OVER THE PLANE, WHICH CAUSED MUCH OF THE DAMAGE.' A FAA ACCIDENT PREVENTION COUNSELOR LOCATED AT THE AIRPORT STATED THE STUDENT PLT ATTEMPTED TO TAKEOFF DOWNWIND ON RWY 36 FROM MID-FIELD. THE WINDS WERE ESTIMATED TO BE FROM THE S-SW AT 20 KTS AND THE TEMPERATURE APPROXIMATELY 90 DEG. RWY 36 IS 6,059 FT. THE COMPUTED DENSITY ALT IS APRX 5,500 FT.
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: 50 hours in all; 50 in this make and model; 22 in the last 90 days; 6 in the last 30 days; 10 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,105 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, July 11, 1986; 90 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,670 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-L2C (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Four Winds Aviation
The flight
- Departed from: APV Apple Valley CA at 1:00 am
- Destination: DAG Dagget CA
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 36, 6,500 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 225° at 20 knots
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 90°F (32°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:00 pm
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.