Cessna C-152 accident near Bakersfield, California, January 18, 1987
On January 18, 1987 at about 1:00 pm local time, a Cessna C-152, registered N757QE, was destroyed in an accident near Bakersfield, California (Bakersfield Municipal). It was a business 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 18, 1987 · about 1:00 pm local time
- Place
- Bakersfield, California · Bakersfield Municipal · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna C-152
- Registration
- N757QE · no longer on the register · serial 15279913
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
A CESSNA 152 COLLIDED WITH A DIRT BANK LOCATED APPROXIMATELY 140 FT TO THE LEFT OF THE RWY EDGE WHILE ON A NIGHT APCH. THE RWY SAFETY AREA AT THE APRT EXTENDS 60 FT FROM THE RWY CENTERLINE. THE PIC INDICATED THAT HE WAS UNABLE TO ACTIVATE THE LOW INTENSITY RWY LIGHTS AFTER REPEATED ATTEMPTS AND THAT THE APRT'S ROTATING BEACON WAS INOPERATIVE. THE PIC ALSO STATED THAT THE PRIVATE PLT PASSENGER WAS MANIPULATING THE CONTROLS AT THE TIME AND HE ALIGNED THE ACFT ON WHAT WAS THOUGHT TO BE THE RWY. THE PLT CONTROLLED APRT LIGHTING SYSTEM WAS OPERATED 10 HRS PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT WITH NO NOTED DEFICIENCIES. SUBSEQUENT TESTING ALSO REVEALED NO DEFICIENCIES. THE ACFT RADIOS WERE UNABLE TO BE TESTED BECAUSE THEY WERE DESTROYED IN THE POST CRASH FIRE. THE APRT'S ROTATING BEACON WAS REPORTED OUT OF SERVICE AND WAS PUBLISHED IN THE NOTAMS. ANOTHER APRT WAS LOCATED 6 NM NORTH OF THE APRT IS EQUIPPED WITH HIRL AND MIRL ON EITHER OF ITS TWO RWYS WHICH OPERATE CONTINUALLY.
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: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 2,500 hours in all; 1,500 in this make and model; 50 in the last 90 days; 18 in the last 30 days; 2,000 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,661 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, September 1, 1986; 30 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,670 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-L2C (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: L45 Bakersfield CA at 12:40 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 31, 3,150 ft by 50 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 090° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 32°F (0°C), dew point 25°F (-4°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 12:50 pm from BFL, 8 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 |
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.