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Accidents · NTSB LAX90LA240 · Final report

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 November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.

What the record shows

Date
July 3, 1990 · cases in 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

FatalSeriousMinorNone
Crew1
Passengers1

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.

Connections how this case links to the rest of the register

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The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/LAX90LA240.json.

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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 does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.