Cessna 152 accident near Santa Rosa, California, April 2, 1990
On April 2, 1990 at about 8:36 pm local time, a Cessna 152, registered N5169B, was substantially damaged in an accident near Santa Rosa, California (Sonoma County 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
FAILURE OF THE STUDENT PILOT TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE DURING THE TAKEOFF ROLL.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 2, 1990 · about 8:36 pm local time
- Place
- Santa Rosa, California · Sonoma County · 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
- N5169B · registry record · serial 15283785
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
ON APRIL 2, 1990, AT 1336 PDT, CESSNA 152 (N5169B) COLLIDED WITH A DITCH AND NOSED OVER DURING THE TAKEOFF GROUND RUN FROM RUNWAY 19, AT SONOMA COUNTY AIRPORT, SANTA ROSA, CALIFORNIA. THE CERTIFIED STUDENT PILOT WAS NOT INJURED AND THE AIRCRAFT SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED AT THE TIME. THE AIRCRAFT WAS BEING OPERATED BY DRAGONFLY AVIATION, INC OF SANTA ROSA, CALIFORNIA UNDER 14 CFR PART 91 AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. THE WINDS WERE REPORTED FROM 180 DEGREES AT 5 KNOTS.
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
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 1,670 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235 (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Dragonfly Aviation, INC.
The flight
- Departed from: STS Santa Rosa CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 19, 5,002 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 25,000 ft
- Temperature: 63°F (17°C), dew point 54°F (12°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 1:36 pm from STS
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.
Other NTSB records under N5169B the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.