Cessna 152 accident near Upland, California, May 5, 1988
On May 5, 1988 at about 6:35 pm local time, a Cessna 152, registered N25294, was substantially damaged in an accident near Upland, California (Cable airport). It was an instructional 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
- May 5, 1988 · about 6:35 pm local time
- Place
- Upland, California · Cable · map
- 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
- N25294 · no longer on the register · serial 15280577
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE STUDENT PILOT'S FLT PURPOSE WAS TO PRACTICE TAKEOFFS & LANDINGS AT A DIFFERENT ARPT. WHEN HE DEPARTED, THE WINDS WERE THE SAME AS THE DEST ARPT. THE CFI FELT THAT A WEATHER BRIEFING WAS NOT REQUIRED. THE STUDENT TOUCHED DOWN ON RWY 24 & THE ACFT BEGAN DRIFTING LEFT. THE STUDENT ABORTED THE TAKEOFF & REDUCED THE POWER TO IDLE. HOWEVER, THE ACFT CONTINUED OFF THE LEFT SIDE OF THE RWY & WAS HEADED FOR A ROW OF PARKED ACFT. THE STUDENT SAID HE TRIED TO STEER THE ACFT AWAY FROM THE PARKED ACFT BUT THE RIGHT WING STRUCK TWO OF THEM. THE FBO SAID THE WINDS WERE GUSTING TO 22 KNOTS. THE CFI, WHO WAS WORKING IN THE TRAFFIC PATTERN WITH ANOTHER STUDENT, SAID THE WINDS WERE FROM THE NORTH.
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: 39 hours in all; 39 in this make and model; 39 in the last 90 days; 33 in the last 30 days; 7 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,516 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, April 30, 1988; 4 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,670 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-L2C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: POC La Verne CA at 6:15 pm
- Destination: CCB Upland CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 24, 3,785 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 230° at 15 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 4,600 ft; scat at 2,400 ft
- Temperature: 55°F (13°C), dew point 46°F (8°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:46 pm from ONT, 5 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.