Cessna 152 accident near Livermore, California, December 17, 1990
On December 17, 1990 at about 6:58 pm local time, a Cessna 152, registered N4722P, was substantially damaged in an accident near Livermore, California (Livermore Muni airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE STUDENT PILOTS FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL DURING THE LANDING. A FACTOR IN THE ACCIDENT WAS HIS LACK OF TOTAL EXPERIENCE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 17, 1990 · about 6:58 pm local time
- Place
- Livermore, California · Livermore Muni · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 152 · all 152s on the register
- Registration
- N4722P · registry record · serial 15284803
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE 28 HOUR SOLO STUDENT PILOT WAS PRACTICING TAKEOFFS AND LANDINGS ON RUNWAY 25R AND WAS ON HIS FOURTH LANDING WHICH WAS TO BE A TOUCH AND GO. THE AIRCRAFT DEPARTED THE LEFT SIDE OF THE RUNWAY AND COLLIDED WITH ROUGH TERRAIN AND NOSED OVER INVERTED. THE PILOT STATED TO FAA SAFETY INSPECTORS THAT IT FELT LIKE THE NOSE WHEEL STEERING DID NOT WORK. THE AIRCRAFT WAS INSPECTED BY FAA AIRWORTHINESS INSPECTORS WHO REPORTED THAT NO PREIMPACT MECHANICAL MALFUNCTIONS OR FAILURES WERE IDENTIFIED.
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: student
- Flight time: 28 hours in all; 28 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,432 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, October 11, 1990; 52 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,670 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-L2C (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Flying Particles INC.
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 25, 5,255 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 190° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:59 pm from LVK, 1 miles away
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.