Cessna 152 accident near Santa Paula, California, September 14, 1989
On September 14, 1989 at about 8:57 pm local time, a Cessna 152, registered N49697, was substantially damaged in an accident near Santa Paula, California (Camarillo 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
IMPROPER IN-FLIGHT PLANNING/DECISION BY THE STUDENT PILOT. CONTRIBUTING FACTORS WERE THE PARKED AIRCRAFT, HANGAR, AND THE STUDENT PILOT'S LACK OF TOTAL EXPERIENCE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 14, 1989 · about 8:57 pm local time
- Place
- Santa Paula, California · Camarillo · 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
- N49697 · no longer on the register · serial 15283497
- 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 PRACTICING LANDINGS IN CALM WIND CONDITIONS. WHILE ON AN APPROACH BEHIND ANOTHER AIRPLANE, HE STARTED A GO-AROUND, THEN HIS AIRCRAFT ENCOUNTERED WAKE TURBULENCE FROM THE OTHER PLANE AND ROLLED ABRUPTLY TO THE RIGHT. SUBSEQUENTLY, IT COLLIDED WITH TWO OTHER AIRCRAFT AND A HANGAR. A WALL OF THE HANGAR COLLAPSED, DAMAGING A THIRD AIRCRAFT.
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: 25 hours in all; 25 in this make and model; 10 in the last 90 days; 4 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,951 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, July 10, 1989; 90 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,675 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235 (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Cardinal Flying Club
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 22, 2,600 ft by 40 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 75°F (24°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.