Cessna 152 accident near San Dimas, California, January 1, 1987
On January 1, 1987 at about 6:20 pm local time, a Cessna 152, registered N5540H, was substantially damaged in an accident near San Dimas, California (Brackett airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people 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
- January 1, 1987 · about 6:20 pm local time
- Place
- San Dimas, California · Brackett · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 152 · all 152s on the register
- Registration
- N5540H · no longer on the register · serial 15284122
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WITNESSES RPRTD THE ACFT HAD CIRCLED THE AREA 2 TIMES AT APRX 200' BEFORE IT HIT TREES & CRASHED. SUBSEQUENTLY, IT CAME TO REST AGAINST A RESIDENCE WHERE THE PLT'S SISTER LIVED. ACCORDING TO THE PLT, THE ENG STARTED 'SPUTTERING,' SO HE APPLIED CARB HEAT, BUT IT CONTD TO LOSE POWER. HOWEVER, NO PREIMPACT PART FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION WAS FND & WITNESSES RPRTD THE ENG WAS RUNNING NORMALLY BFR IMPACT. THE PAX RPRTD THEY HAD BEEN AT A PARTY THE NGT BFR & HAD BEEN DRINKING & SMOKING 'KOOLS' (COMMON STREET NAME FOR CIGARETTES DIPPED IN PHENCYLIDINE (PCP)). BASED ON THEIR OBSERVATIONS, SHERIFF DEPUTIES BELIEVED THE PLT WAS UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF PCP. THEY NOTED PHYSICAL SYMPTOMS OF DRY MOUTH, DIFFICULTY WITH SPEECH, RIGID BODY MOVEMENTS, HORIZONTAL NYSTAGMUS TO THE EYES & FAINT PCP ODOR EMITTING FROM THE PLT'S BREATH & PERSON.THE DEPUTIES REQUESTED THAT THE PLT SUBMIT TO BLOOD OR URINE SAMPLES FOR DRUG AND/OR ALCOHOL USE; HOWEVER, HE REFUSED.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,366 hours in all; 700 in this make and model; 2 in the last 90 days; 1 in the last 30 days; 1,178 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 764 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, December 10, 1986; 36 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,670 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-L2C (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: King Aviation
The flight
- Departed from: VNY Van Nuys CA at 5:30 pm
- Destination: POC La Verne CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 140° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 3 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 18,000 ft
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:46 pm from POC, 4 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.