Cessna 152 accident near San Fernando, California, September 13, 1990
On September 13, 1990 at about 6:08 am local time, a Cessna 152, registered N714XD, was destroyed in an accident near San Fernando, California. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
FUEL EXHAUSTION. CONTRIBUTING FACTORS RELATED TO THE PILOT'S IMPROPER PREFLIGHT PREPARATION AND IMPROPER IN-FLIGHT PLANNING.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 13, 1990 · about 6:08 am local time
- Place
- San Fernando, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 152 · all 152s on the register
- Registration
- N714XD · no longer on the register · serial 15279506
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT AND PAX DEPARTED LAS FOR A PERSONAL FLIGHT TO WHP. AFTER FLYING FOR ABOUT 2.8 HRS THE ENGINE LOST ALL POWER. THE PILOT MADE AN EMERGENCY LANDING ON A CITY STREET NEAR THE DESTINATION ARPT. PRIOR TO DEPARTING FROM LAS THE PILOT HAD DIRECTED THAT THE AIRPLANE'S FUEL TANKS BE ONLY PARTIALLY FILLED. A LINE SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE REPORTED THAT THE TANKS WERE FILLED TO ABOUT 3/4 CAPACITY. THE NTSB ESTIMATED THAT AFTER ALLOWANCE FOR GROUND OPERATION AT LAS, UPON TAKEOFF THE AIRPLANE PROBABLY CONTAINED 17 GALLONS OF USABLE FUEL. PERFORMANCE DATA FROM CESSNA INDICATED THAT AT 75 PERCENT ENGINE POWER, THE FUEL BURN OFF RATE WAS ABOUT 6.1 GAL/HR. THE AIRPLANE'S PROJECTED ENDURANCE WAS 2.8 HRS.
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: single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 910 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 1,670 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-L2C (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Sun Quest Aviation
The flight
- Departed from: LAS Las Vegas NV at 3:15 am
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: night, bright
- Wind: from 120° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 63°F (17°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 5:46 am from BUR, 6 miles away
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.