Cessna 152 accident near Angwin, California, March 10, 1994
On March 10, 1994 at about 6:30 pm local time, a Cessna 152, registered N5368M, was substantially damaged in an accident near Angwin, California (Virgil O. Parrett 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 failure of the pilot to maintain directional control of the aircraft. A factor in the accident was the pilots 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
- March 10, 1994 · about 6:30 pm local time
- Place
- Angwin, California · Virgil O. Parrett 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
- N5368M · registry record · serial 15284567
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that after doing several touch-and-go landings on runway 34, the active runway was changed to runway 16. After making what was described as a normal approach, the aircraft landed on runway 16. During the ground roll, the pilot noticed that the aircraft was 'pulling to the right.' His corrective action was to apply left rudder to stop the right turn. He said that this had no effect on the directional control of the aircraft and, as a final effort, he applied full left rudder. Despite his actions, the aircraft continued off the right side of the runway and down an embankment where it impacted brush and terrain causing substantial structural damage to the airframe and landing gear. The operator stated that he conducted a postaccident inspection of the aircraft and was unable to identify any mechanical discrepancies that might have contributed to a loss of control.
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: 15 hours in all; 15 in this make and model; 15 in the last 90 days; 9 in the last 30 days; 3 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,384 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, January 25, 1994; 78 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,670 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-L2C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 16, 3,200 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 200° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 8,500 ft
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 48°F (9°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
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.