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).
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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 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 20, 1988 · about 2:15 am local time
- 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
What happened, in order
- MIDAIR COLLISION during cruise
Pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land, none, none, none
- 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
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,200 hours
- Last inspection: type not recorded, 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.
- Operating certificate: in the vicinity
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°C, dew point 68°C
- Altimeter: 29 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
What happened, in order
- MIDAIR COLLISION during cruise
Pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land, none, none, none
- 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
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,000 hours
- Last inspection: type not recorded, 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
- Operating certificate: in the vicinity
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 |
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number LAX88LA265.