Cessna 152 accident near Fillmore, California, June 26, 1990
On June 26, 1990 at about 10:15 pm local time, a Cessna 152, registered N528CA, was substantially damaged in an accident near Fillmore, California. It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE INADVERTENT ENGAGEMENT OF THE STARTER DURING FLIGHT FOR UNDETERMINED REASONS. >
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 26, 1990 · about 10:15 pm local time
- Place
- Fillmore, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 152 · all 152s on the register
- Registration
- N528CA · registry record · serial 15279693
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE CFI SAID THE FLIGHT WAS IN LEVEL CRUISE WHEN THE RPM SUDDENLY DROPPED FROM 2300 TO 1800. THE POWER LEVEL WAS INSUFFICIENT TO MAINTAIN FLIGHT AND A FORCED LANDING WAS NECESSARY. THE CFI SELECTED A DRY RIVER WASH AS THE ONLY SUITABLE PLACE IN THE MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN. THE SOIL OF THE WAS WAS SOFT. THE NOSE GEAR DUG IN AND THE AIRCRAFT NOSED OVER. FAA INSPECTORS EXAMINED THE AIRCRAFT AND FOUND THE STARTER ENGAGED. NO OTHER SYSTEM ABNORMALITIES WERE FOUND.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 750 hours in all; 475 in this make and model; 220 in the last 90 days; 93 in the last 30 days; 680 as pilot in command; 450 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (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
- Operator: Above All Aviation
The flight
- Departed from: SMO Santa Monica CA at 8:50 pm
- Destination: SBA Santa Barbara CA
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 260° at 20 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 100°F (38°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 |
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.