Cessna 152 accident near Palo Alto, California, January 10, 1987
On January 10, 1987 at about 4:30 pm local time, a Cessna 152, registered N46354, was substantially damaged in an accident near Palo Alto, California (Palo Alto 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
- January 10, 1987 · about 4:30 pm local time
- Place
- Palo Alto, California · Palo Alto · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 152 · all 152s on the register
- Registration
- N46354 · registry record · serial 15283036
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE STUDENT PILOT STATED THAT HE HAD JUST FINISHED PRACTICING 4 TOUCH-AND-GO WITH HIS FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR. THE FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR THEN EXITED THE AIRCRAFT AND INSTRUCTED THE STUDENT TO PRACTICE 5 SOLO TOUCH-AND-GO. ON THE TAKE-OFF RUN JUST PRIOR TO ROTATION, THE PASSENGER DOOR OPENED. THE STUDENT ATTEMPTED TO CLOSE THE DOOR WHEN HE LOST CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT AND RAN OFF THE RUNWAY COLLIDING WITH THE TERRAIN AND NOSED OVER.
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
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 18 hours in all; 17 in this make and model; 18 in the last 90 days; 14 in the last 30 days; 1 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,992 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, December 30, 1986; 67 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,670 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-L2C (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Sundowner Flying Club
The flight
- Departed from: PAO Palo Alto CA at 4:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 30, 2,500 ft by 65 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 20,000 ft
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 4:30 pm from PAO
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.