Cessna 152 accident near Santa Monica, California, August 6, 1989
On August 6, 1989 at about 7:30 pm local time, a Cessna 152, registered N95693, was substantially damaged in an accident near Santa Monica, California (Santa Monica Muni 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 STUDENT PILOT'S IMPROPER FLARE AND RECOVERY FROM A BOUNCED LANDING.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 6, 1989 · about 7:30 pm local time
- Place
- Santa Monica, California · Santa Monica Muni · 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
- N95693 · no longer on the register · serial 15285959
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
ACCORDING TO THE STUDENT'S INSTRUCTOR PILOT (CFI), THE LESSON BEGAN AS A DUAL SESSION, THEN THE STUDENT TOOK OFF ON A SOLO FLIGHT TO MAKE THREE SUPERVISED SOLO LANDINGS. THE STUDENT'S SOLO TRAFFIC PATTERN WAS NORMAL THROUGH A SHORT FINAL APPROACH. THE CFI NOTED THAT THE AIRCRAFT WAS IN A 'FLAT ATTITUDE' AND WAS 'MAYBE SLIGHTLY SLOW' AS IT CROSSED OVER THE THRESHOLD. SUBSEQUENTLY, IT LANDED HARD ON ALL THREE LANDING GEAR AND BEGAN TO PORPOISE DOWN THE RUNWAY WITH EACH OSCILLATION GROWNING LARGER. ON THE FINAL OSCILLATION, THE AIRCRAFT TOUCHED DOWN HARD AND THE NOSE GEAR COLLAPSED.
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: 37 hours in all; 37 in this make and model; 26 in the last 90 days; 7 in the last 30 days; 2 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,680 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-L2C (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Gunnell Aviation, INC.
The flight
- Departed from: SMO at 6:45 pm
- Destination: SMO
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 21, 4,987 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 210° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 63°F (17°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 7:30 pm from SMO
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.