Cessna 152 accident near San Diego, California, May 18, 1990
On May 18, 1990, a Cessna 152, registered N783G, was destroyed in an accident near San Diego, California (Montgomery airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE AIRSPEED ON FINAL APPROACH RESULTING IN AN AERODYNAMIC STALL. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE PILOT'S DELAYED USE OF FLAPS.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 18, 1990
- Place
- San Diego, California · Montgomery · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 152 · all 152s on the register
- Registration
- N783G · no longer on the register · serial 80085
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE AIRPLANE WAS OBSERVED TO ABRUPTLY PITCH NOSE DOWN ON FINAL APPROACH. THE SOLO STUDENT PILOT AT THE CONTROLS HAD LOGGED ABOUT 28 HOURS TOTAL FLIGHT EXPERIENCE. ACCORDING TO THE STUDENT PILOT'S FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR, TWO HOURS OF DUAL INSTRUCTION WERE DEVOTED TO FLIGHT AT MINIMUM CONTROLLABLE AIRSPEED. THE AIRPLANE FLAPS WERE DETERMINED TO BE IN TRANSIT AT THE TIME OF IMPACT. THE FLAP JACKSCREW MECHANISM INDICATED THE FLAPS TO BE AT AN INTERMEDIATE POSITION OF 7 DEGREES WHILE THE FLAP HANDLE INDICATED 10 DEGREES. THE FLAPS SHOULD BE SET FOR LANDING BY THE TIME THE AIRPLANE HAD REACHED ITS POSITION ON FINAL APPROACH. THE STUDENT PILOT WAS IN RADIO CONTACT WITH THE CONTROL TOWER. THERE WERE NO REPORTS BY THE STUDENT PILOT OF ANY PROBLEMS WITH THE AIRPLANE. THERE WERE NO MECHANICAL FAILURES OR MALFUNCTIONS FOUND WITH THE AIRPLANE DURING THE WRECKAGE EXAMINATION.
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: 28 hours in all; 28 in this make and model; 28 in the last 90 days; 11 in the last 30 days; 3 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,750 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 11, 1989; 272 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,670 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-L2C (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Cal Aero Flying Club
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 28R, 3,400 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 240° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 1,500 ft
- Temperature: 66°F (19°C), dew point 54°F (12°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
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.