Cessna 152 accident near Galt, California, February 16, 1993
On February 16, 1993 at about 6:30 pm local time, a Cessna 152, registered N67615, was substantially damaged in an accident near Galt, California (Franklin Field). 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 PILOT'S INADEQUATE COMPENSATION FOR THE EXISTING CROSSWIND CONDITIONS AND HIS FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT. A FACTOR IN THE ACCIDENT WAS THE PILOT'S LIMITED TOTAL FLIGHT EXPERIENCE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 16, 1993 · about 6:30 pm local time
- Place
- Galt, California · Franklin Field · 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
- N67615 · no longer on the register · serial 15281949
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE 27 HOUR STUDENT PILOT WAS ON HIS THIRD UNSUPERVISED SOLO FLIGHT AND FLEW TO THIS AIRPORT TO PRACTICE TOUCH AND GO LANDINGS. THE PILOT SAID THAT JUST AFTER TOUCHDOWN IN A SLIGHT CROSSWIND THE AIRCRAFT BEGAN VEERING TO THE LEFT AND HE APPLIED RIGHT RUDDER AND BRAKE INPUTS. THE AIRCRAFT THEN BEGAN VEERING TO THE RIGHT AND THE STUDENT REPORTED THAT HE OVER CORRECTED BACK TO THE LEFT WITH BRAKES AND RUDDER. THE PILOT STATED THAT HE COULD NOT CORRECT THE DRIFT PRIOR TO THE AIRCRAFT DEPARTING THE RUNWAY PAVEMENT AND ENCOUNTERING SOFT SOIL, WHICH BENT THE NOSE LANDING GEAR AND BUCKLED THE FIREWALL.
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: 27 hours in all; 27 in this make and model; 12 in the last 90 days; 7 in the last 30 days; 2 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,564 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, February 11, 1993; 8 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,670 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-L2C (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Executive Flyers, INC.
The flight
- Departed from: SAC Sacramento CA at 6:15 pm
- Destination: SAC
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 18, 3,240 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 160° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 6,500 ft; not recorded at 6,500 ft
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°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.