Cessna 152 accident near Buena Park, California, September 13, 1989
On September 13, 1989 at about 11:34 pm local time, a Cessna 152, registered N25776, was destroyed in an accident near Buena Park, California. It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
AN INADEQUATE PERFORMED PREFLIGHT INSPECTION BY THE DUAL STUDENT AND THE INADEQUATE SUPERVISION OF THE DUAL STUDENT BY THE INSTRUCTOR PILOT. CONTAMINATED FUEL WAS A FACTOR IN THE ACCIDENT.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 13, 1989 · about 11:34 pm local time
- Place
- Buena Park, California
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 152 · all 152s on the register
- Registration
- N25776 · no longer on the register · serial 15280778
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE INSTRUCTOR PILOT AND HIS NON-CERTIFICATED STUDENT PILOT WERE PREPARING FOR TAKEOFF AND LANDING TRAINING. THE INSTRUCTOR STATED THAT THE STUDENT PILOT WAS FINISHING THE PREFLIGHT WHEN HE ARRIVED AT THE AIRCRAFT. THE INSTRUCTOR STATED THAT HE CHECKED THE OIL AND MADE A VISUAL CHECK OF THE FUEL QUANTITY IN THE RIGHT WING TANK. THE STUDENT PILOT MADE THE TAKEOFF AND AS THE AIRCRAFT CLIMBED TO 150 FEET ABOVE THE RUNWAY THE ENGINE FAILED. THE INSTRUCTOR TOOK OVER THE CONTROLS FOR THE OFF AIRPORT FORCED LANDING. THE AIRCRAFT COLLIDED WITH A RESIDENCE, IMPACTED THE GROUND IN A STREET AND NOSED OVER ON ITS BACK. A POST CRASH FIRE CONSUMED THE CABIN SECTION.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 444 hours in all; 117 in this make and model; 148 in the last 90 days; 109 in the last 30 days; 390 as pilot in command; 142 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,600 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-L2C (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
- Operator: Liberty Aviation Services
The flight
- Departed from: FUL Fullerton CA at 11:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 230° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 3 statute miles
- Sky: ovct
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Observation at 11:33 pm from FUL, 1 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 |
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.