Cessna 152 accident near Hesperia, California, September 16, 1993
On September 16, 1993 at about 7:50 am local time, a Cessna 152, registered N49813, was substantially damaged in an accident near Hesperia, California (Hesperia Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT IN COMMAND NOT MAINTAINING A PROPER GLIDEPATH. FACTORS PERTAINING TO THIS ACCIDENT WERE: THE PILOT IN COMMAND NOT OBTAINING A WEATHER FORECAST FOR THE RETURN FLIGHT, AND THE LACK OF TOTAL EXPERIEINCE IN NIGHT FLYING.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 16, 1993 · about 7:50 am local time
- Place
- Hesperia, California · Hesperia Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 152 · all 152s on the register
- Registration
- N49813 · no longer on the register · serial 15281334
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
IN HIS WRITTEN STATEMENT, THE PILOT REPORTED HE ENCOUNTERED INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS UNDERNEATH THE AIRPLANE AS HE ENTERED A MOUNTAIN PASS EN ROUTE TO HIS DESTINATION. HE REQUESTED VECTORS AND DIVERTED TO HESPERIA AIRPORT. HE REPORTED HE ENCOUNTERED DIFFICULTIES ACTIVATING THE PILOT CONTROLLED AIRPORT LIGHTS. HE STATED HE THOUGHT HE WAS SET UP ON A 'NORMAL NIGHT APPROACH' TO THE RUNWAY WHEN HE HIT POWERLINES ABOUT 300 FEET SHORT OF THE RUNWAY. HE REPORTED NO MECHANICAL DIFFICULTIES WITH THE AIRPLANE PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT. THE PILOT DID NOT OBTAIN A WEATHER FORECAST FOR THE FLIGHT. THE PILOT FILED A VFR FLIGHT PLAN, BUT FORGOT TO OPEN THE FLIGHT PLAN. THE PILOT HAD 9 HOURS OF TOTAL NIGHT EXPERIENCE, 6 OF WHICH WERE AS PIC.
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: 106 hours in all; 102 in this make and model; 21 in the last 90 days; 10 in the last 30 days; 45 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 7,184 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, September 2, 1993; 30 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,670 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-L2C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: LAS Las Vegas NV at 5:00 am
- Destination: POC La Verne CA
- Flight plan: not recorded
- Runway 21, 3,910 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 280° at 11 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 50°F (10°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 7:50 am from DAG, 35 miles away
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.