Cessna 421C and Cessna 152 accident near Santa Monica, California, October 5, 1991
On October 5, 1991, 2 aircraft, Cessna 421C (N5486G) and Cessna 152 (N93839), were involved in the same accident near Santa Monica, California (Santa Monica airport). No one was hurt; 5 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN AN ADEQUATE VISUAL LOOKOUT WHILE TAXIING THE AIRCRAFT.
THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT OF THE OTHER AIRCRAFT TO MAINTAIN AN ADEQUATE VISUAL LOOKOUT WHILE TAXIING HIS AIRCRAFT.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 5, 1991
- Place
- Santa Monica, California · Santa Monica · map
- Type
- Accident · collision on the ground
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 5 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft 1
- Cessna 421C · all 421Cs on the register
- Registration
- N5486G · no longer on the register · serial 421C0233
- Damage
- Minor damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
- Aircraft 2
- Cessna 152 · all 152s on the register
- Registration
- N93839 · no longer on the register · serial 15285558
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative for the Cessna 421C final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT OF THE CESSNA 421C, N5486G, SAID THAT AS HE APPROACHED THE RUNUP AREA FOR THE ACTIVE RUNWAY, HE LOOKED DOWN IN THE COCKPIT TO ADJUST THE INTERCOM SYSTEM AND THE AIRCRAFT TAXIED INTO THE STOPPED CESSNA 152, N93839, WHICH WAS HOLDING IN THE RUNUP AREA FOR A TAKEOFF CLEARANCE.
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 NTSB's narrative for the Cessna 152 final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT OF THE CESSNA 421C, N5486G, SAID THAT AS HE APPROACHED THE RUNUP AREA FOR THE ACTIVE RUNWAY, HE LOOKED DOWN IN THE COCKPIT TO ADJUST THE INTERCOM SYSTEM AND THE AIRCRAFT TAXIED INTO THE STOPPED CESSNA 152, N93839, WHICH WAS HOLDING IN THE RUNUP AREA FOR A TAKEOFF CLEARANCE.
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 for the Cessna 421C from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,038 hours in all; 235 in this make and model; 15 in the last 90 days; 6 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 1, 1991
- Maximum gross weight: 7,450 lb
- Seats: 7
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental GTSIO-520 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 6 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
The factual record for the Cessna 152 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded, January 2, 2000
- Maximum gross weight: 1,650 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-L2C (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Bob Lench Aviation, INC.
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
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.