Cessna 152 accident near Long Beach, California, January 4, 1989
On January 4, 1989 at about 10:16 pm local time, a Cessna 152, registered N93114, was substantially damaged in an accident near Long Beach, California (Long Beach 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 EXCESSIVE SPEED WHICH THE PILOT WAS MAINTAINING AND HIS IMPROPER OPERATION OF THE BRAKE SYSTEM. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE INEXPERIENCE OF THE STUDENT PILOT.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 4, 1989 · about 10:16 pm local time
- Place
- Long Beach, California · Long Beach · 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
- N93114 · no longer on the register · serial 15285404
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING A LOCAL SUPERVISED SOLO FLIGHT, THE STUDENT PILOT OF A CESSNA 152 WAS ON HIS THIRD AND FINAL SUPERVISED SOLO LANDING, WHEN HE LOST CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE AS HE TRIED TO EXIT THE RUNWAY. HE STATED THAT ON HIS LANDING ROLLOUT HE TRIED TO EXIT THE RUNWAY AT INTERSECTION WITH RWY 16L, BUT THE AIRPLANE'S SPEED WAS TOO FAST. HE HEAVILY APPLIED THE BRAKES, LOST CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE AND NOSED OVER. THERE WAS NO REPORTED MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION OR FAILURE OF THE AIRPLANE.
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: 31 hours in all; 17 in this make and model; 19 in the last 90 days; 5 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,575 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, December 28, 1988; 25 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,670 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-L2C (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Cal State Flying Club
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 25R, 6,192 ft by 200 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 170° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 8 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 12,000 ft; scat at 2,500 ft
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:20 pm from LGB
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.