Cessna A185F accident near Discovery Bay, California, July 14, 1990
On July 14, 1990 at about 9:00 pm local time, a Cessna A185F, registered N888BL, was substantially damaged in an accident near Discovery Bay, California. It was a personal 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 PILOT'S IMPROPER VISUAL LOOKOUT TO ASSURE THE AREA WAS CLEAR OF BOATS BEFORE DEPARTING.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 14, 1990 · about 9:00 pm local time
- Place
- Discovery Bay, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna A185F · all A185Fs on the register
- Registration
- N888BL · registry record · serial 18503257
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT WAS DEPARTING DISCOVERY BAY ON A PERSONAL FLIGHT. DURING THE TAKEOFF ROLL AFTER REACHING AN INDICATED AIRSPEED OF 70 MPH, THE PILOT OBSERVED ONCOMING BOATS AND ABRUPTLY PULLED BACK ON THE CONTROL WHEEL EFFECTING A PREMATURE LIFTOFF. THE AIRPLANE RAPIDLY RAISED INTO THE AIR AND STALLED. BEFORE DEPARTING THE PILOT FAILED TO ADEQUATELY LOOK OUT TO SEE IF THE AREA WAS CLEAR OF BOATS.
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; single-engine sea
- Flight time: 191 hours in all; 38 in this make and model
- 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: 3,350 lb
- Seats: 8
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental IO-520 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: Lake Shasta CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 270° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 50 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.
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.