Cessna 152 accident near Petaluma, California, September 21, 1994
On September 21, 1994 at about 6:30 pm local time, a Cessna 152, registered N6208B, was substantially damaged in an accident near Petaluma, California (Liberty Field). It was a personal 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 initiate a go-around after failing to obtain the proper airspeed and rate of descent during the approach.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 21, 1994 · about 6:30 pm local time
- Place
- Petaluma, California · Liberty 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
- N6208B · no longer on the register · serial 15283908
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT MADE SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO LAND. ON HER FIRST THREE ATTEMPTS, SHE WAS TOO HIGH AND TOO FAST. ON HER FOURTH ATTEMPT, SHE WAS ALSO HIGH AND FAST, BUT SHE APPLIED FULL FLAPS AND SLIPPED THE AIRCRAFT DURING THE APPROACH. AFTER LANDING, SHE ATTEMPTED TO STOP, BUT REALIZED SHE HAD INSUFFICIENT RUNWAY REMAINING. TO AVOID RUNNING OFF THE END OF THE RUNWAY, SHE ATTEMPTED TO TURN RIGHT, AND THE AIRCRAFT STRUCK A HANGAR LOCATED OFF THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE RUNWAY AND A PARKED VEHICLE. SHE BELIEVED THE WIND DIRECTION SHIFTED DURING THE APPROACH, RESULTING IN A DOWNWIND LANDING.
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: 270 hours in all; 250 in this make and model; 78 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,878 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection; 43 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 27, 3,300 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 10 knots
- Visibility: 3 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 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.