Cessna 152 accident near Atwater, California, May 30, 1990
On May 30, 1990 at about 5:30 pm local time, a Cessna 152, registered N68271, was substantially damaged in an accident near Atwater, California (Atwater 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 PILOT FLARED THE AIRPLANE TOO HIGH AND IMPROPERLY RECOVERED FROM THE BOUNCED LANDING. CONTRIBUTING TO THIS ACCIDENT WAS THE PILOT'S IMPROPER USE OF THE NORMAL BRAKES AND THE SOFT TERRAIN.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 30, 1990 · about 5:30 pm local time
- Place
- Atwater, California · Atwater · 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
- N68271 · no longer on the register · serial 15282221
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT HAD FLOWN WITH HER INSTRUCTOR FOR 36 MINUTES, PRACTICING TAKEOFFS AND LANDINGS, BEFORE DEPARTING ON HER SECOND SUPERVISED SOLO FLIGHT. ON THE FIRST LANDING, THE PILOT LANDED THE AIRPLANE HARD CAUSING IT TO BOUNCE. THE AIRPLANE THEN BEGAN TO PORPOISE. ON THE THIRD TOUCHDOWN, THE AIRPLANE'S LEFT WHEEL CONTACTED THE LEFT SOFT SHOULDER OF THE RUNWAY. THE PILOT APPLIED THE BRAKES AND THE AIRPLANE THEN NOSED OVER ONTO ITS BACK.
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: 16 hours in all; 16 in this make and model; 13 in the last 90 days; 7 in the last 30 days; 1 as pilot in command
- 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: 1,670 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-L2C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 12, 2,470 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 160° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°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.