Cessna 152 accident near Santa Ana, California, March 12, 1991
On March 12, 1991 at about 1:18 am local time, a Cessna 152, registered N757XE, was destroyed in an accident near Santa Ana, California (John Wayne 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 PILOT'S IMPROPER INFLIGHT PLANNING WHICH RESULTED IN THE FLIGHT'S ENCOUNTER WITH WAKE TURBULENCE FROM A LANDING HEAVY TRANSPORT.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 12, 1991 · about 1:18 am local time
- Place
- Santa Ana, California · John Wayne · 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
- N757XE · no longer on the register · serial 15280079
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
ACCORDING TO THE PILOT, HE WAS PERFORMING THE FOURTH TOUCH AND GO LANDING ON RUNWAY 19 LEFT. THE AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL TOWER CAUTIONED THE PILOT ABOUT POSSIBLE WAKE TURBULENCE FROM A BOEING 757 WHICH WAS LANDING JUST AHEAD OF THE AIRCRAFT ON RUNWAY 19 RIGHT. THE PILOT SAID HE WAS IN THE FLARE WHEN THE AIRCRAFT SUDDENLY ROLLED VIOLENTLY TO THE RIGHT. THE AIRCRAFT STRUCK THE RUNWAY ON THE RIGHT WING AND NOSE. A FIRE STARTED WHICH CONSUMED THE AIRCRAFT. THE WINDS WERE REPORTED BY THE TOWER AS 240 DEGREES AT 12 KNOTS.
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: 68 hours in all; 68 in this make and model; 20 in the last 90 days; 11 in the last 30 days; 23 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ 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
- Fire on the ground
- Operator: Sunrise Aviation CO.
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 19, 2,887 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 240° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 40 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.