Cessna 152 accident near Concord, California, May 27, 1989
On May 27, 1989, a Cessna 152, registered N24521, was substantially damaged in an accident near Concord, California (Buchanan Field). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
STUDENT PILOT HAD NOT ATTAINED COMPENSATION FOR THE CROSSWIND, AND LOST CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 27, 1989
- Place
- Concord, California · Buchanan Field · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 152 · all 152s on the register
- Registration
- N24521 · no longer on the register · serial 15280308
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE STUDENT PILOT WAS ON HIS THIRD SOLO FLIGHT. AFTER ROTATION AND DURING INITIAL CLIMB, THE AIRPLANE VEERED OVER THE LEFT SIDE OF THE RUNWAY AND STRUCK A RUNWAY LOCATOR SIGN. THE AIRPLANE WENT BACK TO THE GROUND AND THE NOSE GEAR COLLAPSED, THE RIGHT WHEEL BROKE OFF AND THE RIGHT WING STRUCK THE GROUND.
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
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 20 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,509 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, May 16, 1989; 24 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,670 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235 L2C (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Buchanan Flying Club
The flight
- Departed from: CCR
- Destination: CCR
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 32R, 4,601 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 260° at 9 knots, gusting 18
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; not recorded
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.