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Accidents · NTSB LAX91LA024 · Final report

Cessna 152 and Boeing B75N1 accident near Watsonville, California, October 12, 1990

On October 12, 1990 at about 9:00 pm local time, 2 aircraft, Cessna 152 (N24815) and Boeing B75N1 (N65544), were involved in the same accident near Watsonville, California (Watsonville airport). No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).

The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged

THE FAILURE OF THE PILOTS OF BOTH AIRCRAFT TO SEE AND AVOID THE OTHER.
THE FAILURE OF THE PILOTS OF BOTH AIRCRAFT TO SEE AND AVOID THE OTHER.

Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.

What the record shows

Date
October 12, 1990 · about 9:00 pm local time · cases in 1990
Place
Watsonville, California · Watsonville · cases near this airport · map
Type
Accident · collision on the ground
Injuries
No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
Weather
visual conditions (good weather)
Aircraft 1
Cessna 152 · all 152s on the register
Registration
N24815 · no longer on the register · serial 15280395
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
Aircraft 2
Boeing B75N1 · all B75N1s on the register
Registration
N65544 · registry record · serial 75-6629
Damage
Minor damage
Flight
Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)

The NTSB's narrative for the Cessna 152 final · quoted from the NTSB record

THE PILOT OF N65544 SAID THAT HE WAS HOLDING IN THE RUN UP AREA PRIOR TO TAKEOFF AND THE CESSNA 152, N24815, TAXIED UP IN FRONT OF HIS AIRCRAFT IN A PERPENDICULAR ORIENTATION. THE PILOT SAID HE COULD NOT SEE THE CESSNA 152 AND BEGAN TO PULL FORWARD TO MOVE INTO POSITION. THE PROPELLER OF N65544 SLICED INTO THE RIGHT WING OF THE CESSNA 152. THE INSTRUCTOR PILOT ON BOARD THE CESSNA 152 STATED IN HIS WRITTEN REPORT THAT HIS STUDENT TAXIED UP TO THE HOLD SHORT LINE IN PREPARATION FOR TAKEOFF. HE SAID THAT HE LOOKED TO HIS RIGHT AND SAW THE STEARMAN TAXI INTO HIS RIGHT WING. THE WATSONVILLE AIRPORT IS AN UNCONTROLLED GENERAL AVIATION FACILITY.

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 NTSB's narrative for the Boeing B75N1 final · quoted from the NTSB record

THE PILOT OF N65544 SAID THAT HE WAS HOLDING IN THE RUN UP AREA PRIOR TO TAKEOFF AND THE CESSNA 152, N24815, TAXIED UP IN FRONT OF HIS AIRCRAFT IN A PERPENDICULAR ORIENTATION. THE PILOT SAID HE COULD NOT SEE THE CESSNA 152 AND BEGAN TO PULL FORWARD TO MOVE INTO POSITION. THE PROPELLER OF N65544 SLICED INTO THE RIGHT WING OF THE CESSNA 152. THE INSTRUCTOR PILOT ON BOARD THE CESSNA 152 STATED IN HIS WRITTEN REPORT THAT HIS STUDENT TAXIED UP TO THE HOLD SHORT LINE IN PREPARATION FOR TAKEOFF. HE SAID THAT HE LOOKED TO HIS RIGHT AND SAW THE STEARMAN TAXI INTO HIS RIGHT WING. THE WATSONVILLE AIRPORT IS AN UNCONTROLLED GENERAL AVIATION FACILITY.

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 for the Cessna 152 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English

Pilot

  • Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
  • Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
  • Flight time: 1,515 hours in all; 725 in this make and model; 230 in the last 90 days; 60 in the last 30 days; 1,280 as pilot in command; 600 on instruments
  • Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no 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: United Flight Services

The flight

  • Departed from: WVI at 9:00 pm
  • Destination: WVI
  • Flight plan: none
  • Runway 0
  • A second pilot was aboard

Weather at the time

  • Light: daylight
  • Visibility: 15 statute miles
  • Sky: clear
  • Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)

Injuries

FatalSeriousMinorNone
Crew2

The factual record for the Boeing B75N1 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English

Pilot

  • Certificate: commercial pilot
  • Ratings: single-engine land
  • Flight time: 567 hours in all; 36 in this make and model; 65 in the last 90 days; 36 in the last 30 days; 504 as pilot in command
  • Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
  • Seat: unk

The aircraft

  • Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
  • Maximum gross weight: 2,600 lb
  • Seats: 2
  • Landing gear: fixed
  • Engine: Continental R 670-4 (piston); 0 hours total

The flight

  • Departed from: WVI at 9:00 pm
  • Destination: WVI
  • Flight plan: none
  • Runway 0

Injuries

FatalSeriousMinorNone
Crew1

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/LAX91LA024.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.