Cessna 152 accident near Reedley, California, November 1, 1991
On November 1, 1991 at about 6:30 pm local time, a Cessna 152, registered N48760, was substantially damaged in an accident near Reedley, California (Reedley 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 STUDENT PILOT'S IMPROPER USE OF THE FLIGHT CONTROLS AND HIS FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT. A CONTRIBUTING FACTOR IN THE ACCIDENT WAS THE STUDENTS LACK OF TOTAL EXPERIENCE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 1, 1991 · about 6:30 pm local time
- Place
- Reedley, California · Reedley · 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
- N48760 · no longer on the register · serial 15280958
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE 17 HOUR STUDENT PILOT WAS ON HIS SECOND SUPERVISED SOLO FLIGHT AND WAS PERFORMING TAKEOFFS AND LANDINGS. ON THE ACCIDENT LANDING THE PILOT SAID THAT THE AIRCRAFT BEGAN VEERING OFF THE RUNWAY AFTER TOUCHDOWN AND HE COULD NOT CORRECT THE SITUATION. THE AIRCRAFT GROUND LOOPED AND CAME TO REST OFF THE RUNWAY IN A PLOWED FIELD. DURING RETRIEVAL OF THE AIRCRAFT THE CONTROL, BRAKING AND STEERING SYSTEMS WERE EXAMINED BY A CERTIFIED AIRFRAME AND POWERPLANT MECHANIC AND FOUND TO BE FULLY FUNCTIONAL.
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: 17 hours in all; 17 in this make and model; 17 in the last 90 days; 14 in the last 30 days; 1 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,432 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, October 5, 1991; 82 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,670 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-L2C (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Aero Fresno
The flight
- Departed from: FAT Fresno CA at 5:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 33, 3,300 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 68°F (20°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.