Cessna 152 accident near Hickman, California, July 3, 1990
On July 3, 1990, a Cessna 152, registered N25899, was substantially damaged in an accident near Hickman, California. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S IMPROPER PLANNING & DECISION, AN INADEQUATE FUEL SUPPLY, AND FUEL EXHAUSTION. A CONTRIBUTING FACTOR WAS RELATED TO THE FALSE INDICATION OF THE FUEL QUANTITY GAGES.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 3, 1990
- Place
- Hickman, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 152 · all 152s on the register
- Registration
- N25899 · registry record · serial 15280842
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PRIVATE PILOT, WHO HAD LOGGED ABOUT 153-HOURS OF FLIGHT TIME, AND A PASSENGER PLANNED A CROSSCOUNTRY FLIGHT. AFTER FLYING FOR ABOUT THREE HOURS A TOTAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER WAS EXPERIENCED. THE PILOT MADE A FORCED LANDING IN A GRASS FIELD. DURING ROLLOUT THE AIRCRAFT COLLIDED WITH A FENCE. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT AT THE TIME OF THE MISHAP BOTH WING TANKS' FUEL GAGES REGISTERED 1/4 FULL.
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: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 153 hours in all; 10 in this make and model; 5 in the last 90 days; 5 in the last 30 days
- 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: 1,670 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-L2C (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Midfiled Aviation
The flight
- Departed from: APV Apple Vlley CA at 9:45 pm
- Destination: 027 Oakdale CA
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, the folder of records gathered during the investigation, shown as the NTSB released them (the NTSB redacts some personal details first) and listed under the NTSB's own titles. This site's own text never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number LAX90LA240.