Cessna 152 accident near Hayward, California, September 21, 1990
On September 21, 1990 at about 5:46 pm local time, a Cessna 152, registered N46326, was substantially damaged in an accident near Hayward, California (Haynard Air Terminal airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE FAILURE OF THE AIRPLANE'S MAIN LANDING GEAR BOLT/NUT PLATE ATTACHMENT ASSEMBLY. CONTRIBUTING FACTORS RELATED TO THE IMPROPER INSTALLATION (THREADING) OF THE GEAR BOLT/NUT ASSEMBLY.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 21, 1990 · about 5:46 pm local time
- Place
- Hayward, California · Haynard Air Terminal · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 152 · all 152s on the register
- Registration
- N46326 · no longer on the register · serial 15283031
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT MADE TWO LANDINGS, AND DURING THE SECOND LANDING THE AIRPLANE'S MAIN LANDING GEAR FAILED. THE PILOT LOST CONTROL OF HIS AIRPLANE. IT VEERED OFF THE RUNWAY AND GROUND LOOPED. THE AIRPLANE HAD BEEN MODIFIED BY THE INSTALLATION OF CONVENTIONAL LEAF SPRING MAIN GEAR AND A TAIL WHEEL ASSEMBLY. A MAIN GEAR ATTACHMENT BOLT WAS FOUND PARTIALLY STRIPPED FROM ITS RESPECTIVE NUT PLATE ASSEMBLY. ONLY ABOUT FOUR OF THE THREADS AT THE BOLT'S END WERE OBSERVED STRIPPED, AND ONLY A PORTION OF THE THREADS IN THE NUT PLATE WERE OBSERVED STRIPPED. DURING THE LANDING, THE IMPROPERLY SECURED BOLT PULLED OUT OF THE NUT PLATE.
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; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 1,690 hours in all; 150 in this make and model; 3 in the last 90 days; 1 in the last 30 days; 1,610 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,961 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 7, 1990; 3 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,670 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-L26 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 28L, 5,024 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.89 inHg
- Observation at 5:46 pm from HWD
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.
Other NTSB records under N46326 the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.