Cessna 152 accident near Chino, California, April 11, 1989
On April 11, 1989 at about 9:00 am local time, a Cessna 152, registered N24807, was substantially damaged in an accident near Chino, California. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO OBTAIN AN APPROPRIATE WEATHER BRIEFING IN PREPARATION FOR THE CROSS COUNTRY FLIGHT AND HIS FAILURE TO MAINTAIN AN ALTITUDE SUFFICIENT TO CLEAR THE TERRAIN ALONG THE INDENDED ROUTE AFTER ENTERING REDUCED VISIBILITY CONDITIONS.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 11, 1989 · about 9:00 am local time
- Place
- Chino, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 152 · all 152s on the register
- Registration
- N24807 · no longer on the register · serial 15280390
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING A NIGHT CROSS COUNTRY FLIGHT, THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH HILLY TERRAIN IN A NEAR WINGS LEVEL ATTITUDE. WEATHER IN THE AREA AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT WAS INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS. THERE WERE NO MECHANICAL FAILURES OR MALFUNCTIONS FOUND DURING THE ENGINE INSPECTION.THE PILOT DOES NOT REMEMBER THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE ACCIDENT. THE PILOT DID HOWEVER REPORT THAT HE CONTACTED THE HAWTHORNE FLIGHT SERVICE STATION BY TELEPHONE AT 2300 HOURS ON 4/10/89 AND THE SPECIALIST REPORTED THAT FULLERTON WAS VFR. A REVIEW OF THE TAPES AT HAWTHORNE FSS DID NOT REVEAL ANY CALLS MADE BY THE PILOT OF N24807.
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: 150 hours in all; 7 in this make and model; 105 in the last 90 days; 47 in the last 30 days; 101 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Unknown
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,576 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, March 22, 1989; 36 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: RAL Riverside CA at 7:30 am
- Destination: FUL Fullerton CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 230° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 2 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded at 500 ft
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 54°F (12°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 9:53 am from ONT, 13 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.