Cessna 152 accident near Sylmar, California, June 5, 1992
On June 5, 1992 at about 10:14 pm local time, a Cessna 152, registered N701KA, was destroyed in an accident near Sylmar, California. It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO ADEQUATELY JUDGE AND EVALUATE THE WEATHER CONDITIONS AND HIS IMPROPER IN-FLIGHT DECISION TO FLY CLOSE TO CLOUDS. THESE ACTS LED TO HIS ENTERING IMC AND BECOMING LOST AND DISORIENTED.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 5, 1992 · about 10:14 pm local time
- Place
- Sylmar, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 152 · all 152s on the register
- Registration
- N701KA · no longer on the register · serial 15281896
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING AN UNSUPERVISED SOLO INSTRUCTIONAL FLIGHT THE PILOT, WHO RECENTLY RECEIVED AN INSTRUMENT RATING, PLANNED ON INCREASING HIS FLIGHT TIME IN HOPES OF BECOMING A COMMERCIAL PILOT. THE PILOT INDICATED TO ATC THAT HE HAD RECEIVED THE LOCAL ARPT WEATHER. A BROKEN CEILING WAS REPORTED AT 2000 FT AGL (2800 FT. MSL). THE PILOT TOOK OFF AND FLEW NORTHBOUND TOWARD MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN. AFTER FLYING FOR ABOUT 10 MIN, THE PILOT RADIOED ATC AND INDICATED HE DESIRED TO RETURN TO THE ARPT. ATC ISSUED THE PILOT A CLEARANCE WHICH HE ACKNOWLEDGED. THE PILOT DID NOT INDICATE THAT HE WAS EXPERIENCING ANY PROBLEMS, NOR DID HE REQUEST ASSISTANCE. THERE WERE NO FURTHER COMMUNICATIONS WITH THE PILOT. WITNESSES LOCATED ABOUT 1 MILE FROM THE CRASH SITE REPORTED OBSERVING THE ACFT FLYING IN AND OUT OF CLOUDS IN AN EASTERLY DIRECTION NEXT TO A MOUNTAIN. THE ACFT APPEARED TO REVERSE COURSE, AND IT INITIALLY COMMENCED FLYING IN A WESTERLY DIRECTION. THE ACFT THEN TURNED TO THE NORTH AND HEADED TOWARD THE MOUNTAIN WHICH WAS PARTIALLY CLOUD COVERED. THE ACFT DISAPPEARED FROM VIEW UPON REENTERING THE CLOUDS, AND SECONDS THEREAFTER THE SOUND OF AN IMPACT WAS HEARD. THE CRASH SITE ELEVATION, 8.3 NM FROM THE DEPARTURE ARPT, WAS ABOUT 2550 FT MSL.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 238 hours in all; 138 in this make and model; 103 in the last 90 days; 50 in the last 30 days; 163 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,609 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, May 9, 1992; 63 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: King Aviation Center, INC.
The flight
- Departed from: VNY Van Nuys CA at 10:02 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 120° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 6 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 1,800 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 57°F (14°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:46 pm from VNY, 9 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.