Cessna 152 and Cessna 152 mid-air collision near Dixon, California, July 20, 1988
On July 20, 1988 at about 2:15 am local time, 2 aircraft, Cessna 152 (N6469M) and Cessna 152 (N6239H), were involved in a mid-air collision near Dixon, California. No one was hurt; 3 people were 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 November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 20, 1988 · about 2:15 am local time · cases in 1988
- Place
- Dixon, California · map
- Type
- Accident · mid-air collision
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft 1
- Cessna 152 · all 152s on the register
- Registration
- N6469M · registry record · serial 15284145
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
- Aircraft 2
- Cessna 152 · all 152s on the register
- Registration
- N6239H · no longer on the register · serial 15284145
- Damage
- Minor damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative for the Cessna 152 final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLTS STATED THAT WHILE THEY WERE CRUISING IN CLOSE FORMATION, THE RGT WING OF ONE ACFT (CESSNA 152, N6469M) RAISED UP & COLLIDED WITH THE LEFT MAIN LNDG GEAR OF THE OTHER ACFT (CESSNA 152, N6239H). N6469M RECEIVED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE WING & N6239H RECEIVED MINOR GEAR DAMAGE, BUT BOTH ACFT WERE SUCCESSFULLY LANDED.
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 NTSB's narrative for the Cessna 152 final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLTS STATED THAT WHILE THEY WERE CRUISING IN CLOSE FORMATION, THE RGT WING OF ONE ACFT (CESSNA 152, N6469M) RAISED UP & COLLIDED WITH THE LEFT MAIN LNDG GEAR OF THE OTHER ACFT (CESSNA 152, N6239H). N6469M RECEIVED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE WING & N6239H RECEIVED MINOR GEAR DAMAGE, BUT BOTH ACFT WERE SUCCESSFULLY LANDED.
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 for the Cessna 152 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 63 hours in all; 63 in the last 90 days; 51 in the last 30 days; 30 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,200 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 14, 1988; 30 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,670 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-L2C (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Patterson Aircraft CO.
The flight
- Departed from: 005 Davis CA at 2:10 am
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 100°F (38°C), dew point 68°F (20°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 1:46 am from SAC, 14 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
The factual record for the Cessna 152 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 135 hours in all; 93 in this make and model; 89 in the last 90 days; 37 in the last 30 days; 90 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,000 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 21, 1988; 40 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: 005 Davis CA at 2:10 am
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
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.
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N6469M on the register today · the tail number may have moved to another aircraft since
- Cessna 152 1,636 registered today · the model family and its accident history
- Cessna 72,677 aircraft on the register
- N6239H: not on the register today · the record of its deregistration
- Cessna 152 1,636 registered today · the model family and its accident history
- Cessna 72,677 aircraft on the register
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-L2C 84 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-L2C 84 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Accidents and incidents in California 9,080 since 1982 · 1,096 in the last ten years
- California 28,112 aircraft registered
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/LAX88LA265.json.
The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.
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 does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.