Cessna 152 accident near Madera, California, August 16, 1987
On August 16, 1987 at about 7:14 pm local time, a Cessna 152, registered N65451, was substantially damaged in an accident near Madera, California (Pvt Strip airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. 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 16, 1987 · about 7:14 pm local time
- Place
- Madera, California · Pvt Strip
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 152 · all 152s on the register
- Registration
- N65451 · no longer on the register · serial 15281559
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
AFTER THE AIRCRAFT WAS FLOWN FOR 3 HOURS AND 30 MINUTES THE ENGINE FAILED. THE AIRCRAFT ENTERED A FORCED LANDING APPROACH TO AN OPEN FIELD. THE AIRCRAFT LANDED HARD AND NOSED OVER ONTO ITS BACK. GROUND WITNESSES WHO WERE ON SCENE SHORTLY AFTER THE ACCIDENT STATED THAT THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE OF A FUEL SPILL NOR DID THEY DETECT AN ODOR OF FUEL IN THE VICINITY OF THE AIRCRAFT. THE OPERATOR REPORTED THAT HE OBTAINED ONLY 3 QUARTS OF FUEL FROM THE AIRCRAFT'S FUEL SYSTEM AFTER THE ACCIDENT. HE STATED THAT AFTER REPLACING THE PROPELLER AND ADDING FUEL TO THE TANKS THE ENGINE STARTED AND RAN.
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: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,076 hours in all; 137 in this make and model; 17 in the last 90 days; 1,982 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,913 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 30, 1987; 22 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,670 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-L2C (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Executive Flyers, INC.
The flight
- Departed from: FAT Fresno CA
- Destination: SAC Sacramento CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 270° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 54°F (12°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:57 pm from MER, 18 miles away
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.