Cessna 152 accident near Richmond, California, May 18, 1991
On May 18, 1991 at about 6:15 pm local time, a Cessna 152, registered N6507H, was substantially damaged in an accident near Richmond, California. It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
LOSS OF ENGINE POWER DUE TO CARBURETOR ICE. A FACTOR IN THE ACCIDENT WAS THE FAILURE OF THE INSTRUCTOR TO PROPERLY SUPERVISE THE CONDUCT OF THE FLIGHT.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 18, 1991 · about 6:15 pm local time
- Place
- Richmond, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 152 · all 152s on the register
- Registration
- N6507H · no longer on the register · serial 15284174
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE LOCAL AREA DUAL INSTRUCTIONAL FLIGHT WAS ENROUTE TO THE PRACTICE AREA AT AN ALTITUDE OF 1,300 FEET WHEN THE ENGINE SUDDENLY LOST POWER. THE INSTRUCTOR'S ATTEMPTS TO REMEDY THE LOSS OF POWER WERE UNSUCCESSFUL AND THE AIRCRAFT COLLIDED WITH A BRIDGE STRUCTURE AND AN AUTOMOBILE DURING AN ATTEMPTED FORCED LANDING ON A FREEWAY. THE AIRCRAFT WAS EXAMINED BY AN FAA AIRWORTHINESS INSPECTOR. IN HIS REPORT OF THE EXAMINATION, THE INSPECTOR NOTED THAT NO MECHANICAL MALFUNCTIONS OR FAILURES WERE IDENTIFIED. THE OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA, AVIATION WEATHER OBSERVATION TAKEN AT 0945 HOURS REPORTED A TEMPERATURE OF 55 DEGREES AND A DEW POINT OF 41 DEGREES. REVIEW OF A CARBURETOR ICING PROBABILITY CHART REVEALED THAT THE TEMPERATURE AND DEW POINT FALLS WITHIN AN AREA DEFINED AS 'SERIOUS ICING - CRUISE OR CLIMB POWER'.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,000 hours in all; 1,000 in this make and model; 200 in the last 90 days; 50 in the last 30 days; 1,800 as pilot in command; 1,400 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded, January 2, 2000
- Maximum gross weight: 1,670 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-12C (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Univ Of Calif Flying Club
The flight
- Departed from: OAK Oakland CA at 6:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: overcast; not recorded
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 |
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.