Cessna 152 accident near Pinyon Pines, California, May 5, 1992
On May 5, 1992 at about 10:30 pm local time, a Cessna 152, registered N67545, was destroyed in an accident near Pinyon Pines, California. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed and 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE ALTITUDE WHILE MANEUVERING IN MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN WHICH RESULTED IN GETTING TRAPPED IN A BOX CANYON, RESULTING IN A STALL DUE TO INADEQUATE AIRSPEED. FACTORS WHICH CONTRIBUTED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: THE PILOT'S DECISION TO FLY INTO MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN AT A LOW ALTITUDE, HIS IMPAIRMENT DUE TO DRUGS, AND THE TERRAIN CONDITIONS.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 5, 1992 · about 10:30 pm local time
- Place
- Pinyon Pines, California
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed and 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 152 · all 152s on the register
- Registration
- N67545 · no longer on the register · serial 152-081904
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT WAS IN THE PROCESS OF BUILDING TIME TO ENABLE HIM TO TAKE HIS COMMERCIAL PILOT'S EXAM. HE AND A PASSENGER FLEW INTO A CANYON SURROUNDED BY RISING TERRAIN AND MOUNTAINS. THE SURVIVING PASSENGER REPORTED THAT THEY WERE FLYING 'TOO LOW' AND HE TOLD THE PILOT '...LET'S GET OUT OF HERE.' THE PILOT SAID HE WAS TRYING. THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH THE TERRAIN. THE PASSENGER REPORTED THAT THE AIRPLANE AND ITS ENGINE WERE OPERATING 'FINE.' HE SAID THAT WEATHER WAS NO FACTOR. THE PILOT'S TOXICOLOGICAL TEST WAS POSITIVE FOR 0.028 UG/ML TETRAHYDROCANNABINOL CARBOXYLIC ACID (MARIHUANA) DETECTED IN THE BLOOD.
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: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 216 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,079 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, May 1, 1992; 11 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,670 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-N2C (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Bermuda Air Services INC.
The flight
- Departed from: UDD Bermuda Dunes CA at 9:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.