Cessna 152 accident near Helendale, California, June 10, 1995
On June 10, 1995 at about 4:25 pm local time, a Cessna 152, registered N48934, was destroyed in an accident near Helendale, California. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
Loss of engine power for an undetermined reason(s). A factor in the accident was the pilot's selection of unsuitable terrain for the forced landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 10, 1995 · about 4:25 pm local time
- Place
- Helendale, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 152 · all 152s on the register
- Registration
- N48934 · no longer on the register · serial 15281058
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT REPORTED THAT HE WAS AT 1,000 FT AGL WHEN THE ENGINE BEGAN TO MISS AND LOSE POWER. HE APPLIED CARBURETOR HEAT, CHECKED THE FUEL MIXTURE, FUEL SELECTOR, AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS BEFORE MAKING A FORCED LANDING. POSTACCIDENT INSPECTION REVEALED THAT THE TIPS OF BOTH PROPELLER BLADES WERE BENT FORWARD. NO MECHANICAL ABNORMALITIES WERE NOTED. A WITNESS, WHO LIVES 1/4 MILE FROM THE ACCIDENT SITE, AND IS AN ACQUAINTANCE OF THE PILOT, SAID THAT SHE HEARD THE AIRCRAFT PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT. SHE HEARD THE ENGINE 'CUT OUT' AS IT FLEW OVER, BUT THAT SHE WAS LOADING HER CAR AND DID NOT SEE THE ACCIDENT. THERE WERE SEVERAL UNOBSTRUCTED AND STRAIGHT DIRT ROADS IN THE IMMEDIATE VICINITY OF THE ACCIDENT SITE RUNNING NORTH-SOUTH AND EAST-WEST.
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: 2,000 hours in all; 300 in this make and model; 6 in the last 90 days; 4 in the last 30 days; 2,000 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (expired)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,845 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, May 19, 1995; 33 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,670 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-N2C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: APV Apple Valley CA at 3:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 280° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 25,000 ft
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 39°F (4°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 3:50 pm from DAG, 31 miles away
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.