Piper PA-28 and Cessna 152 accident near Lincoln, California, February 7, 1990
On February 7, 1990 at about 7:30 pm local time, 2 aircraft, Piper PA-28 (N32744) and Cessna 152 (N67321), were involved in the same accident near Lincoln, California (Lincoln airport). No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
INADEQUATE VISUAL LOOKOUT BY THE PILOT OF THE CESSNA, WHICH RESULTED IN HIS FAILURE TO SEE-AND-AVOID THE PIPER.
INADEQUATE VISUAL LOOKOUT BY THE PILOT OF THE CESSNA, WHICH RESULTED IN HIS FAILURE TO SEE-AND-AVOID THE PIPER.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 7, 1990 · about 7:30 pm local time
- Place
- Lincoln, California · Lincoln · map
- Type
- Accident · collision on the ground
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft 1
- Piper PA-28 · all PA-28s on the register
- Registration
- N32744 · registry record · serial 28-7515231
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
- Aircraft 2
- Cessna 152 · all 152s on the register
- Registration
- N67321 · no longer on the register · serial 15281752
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative for the Piper PA-28 final · quoted from the NTSB record
AN INSTRUCTOR (CFI) & STUDENT IN A PIPER PA-28, & A PRIVATE PILOT IN A CESSNA 152, WERE PRACTICING TAKEOFFS & LANDINGS. AS THE PIPER WAS ON FINAL APPROACH FOR A FULL STOP LANDING, THE CESSNA TURNED ONTO A CLOSE-IN HIGH BASE LEG. THE CFI RADIOED THE CESSNA PILOT & ADVISED HIM OF THE PIPER'S POSITION. THE CESSNA PILOT ACKNOWLEDGED SEEING THE PIPER, & THE CFI (IN THE PIPER) ELECTED TO CONTINUE WITH THE APPROACH. AFTER THE PIPER TOUCHED DOWN & WAS ON THE LANDING ROLLING, THE CESSNA LANDED ON THE PIPER. BOTH AIRCRAFT WERE SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED, BUT THE PILOTS WERE NOT INJURED. THE CESSNA PILOT REPORTED THAT HE WAS PRACTICING A SIMULATED ENGINE OUT FORCED LANDING & THAT HE DID NOT OBSERVE THE PIPER UNTIL JUST BEFORE TOUCHDOWN.
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 NTSB's narrative for the Cessna 152 final · quoted from the NTSB record
AN INSTRUCTOR (CFI) & STUDENT IN A PIPER PA-28, & A PRIVATE PILOT IN A CESSNA 152, WERE PRACTICING TAKEOFFS & LANDINGS. AS THE PIPER WAS ON FINAL APPROACH FOR A FULL STOP LANDING, THE CESSNA TURNED ONTO A CLOSE-IN HIGH BASE LEG. THE CFI RADIOED THE CESSNA PILOT & ADVISED HIM OF THE PIPER'S POSITION. THE CESSNA PILOT ACKNOWLEDGED SEEING THE PIPER, & THE CFI (IN THE PIPER) ELECTED TO CONTINUE WITH THE APPROACH. AFTER THE PIPER TOUCHED DOWN & WAS ON THE LANDING ROLLING, THE CESSNA LANDED ON THE PIPER. BOTH AIRCRAFT WERE SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED, BUT THE PILOTS WERE NOT INJURED. THE CESSNA PILOT REPORTED THAT HE WAS PRACTICING A SIMULATED ENGINE OUT FORCED LANDING & THAT HE DID NOT OBSERVE THE PIPER UNTIL JUST BEFORE TOUCHDOWN.
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 for the Piper PA-28 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,270 hours in all; 498 in this make and model; 213 in the last 90 days; 76 in the last 30 days; 1,189 as pilot in command; 902 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,325 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E3D (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Horizon Aviation
The flight
- Departed from: AUN Auburn CA at 6:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 33, 6,100 ft by 100 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 330° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 40 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Observation at 6:55 pm from MCC, 15 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 |
The factual record for the Cessna 152 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 110 hours in all; 110 in this make and model; 9 in the last 90 days; 1 in the last 30 days; 62 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: 1,600 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-L2C (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Aerosystems, INC..
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 33, 6,100 ft by 100 ft
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.