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 October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 12, 1990 · about 9:00 pm local time
- Place
- Watsonville, California · Watsonville · 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
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 |
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
| 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.
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.