Amateur-built TIGER MOTH DH 82A and Cessna 152 accident near Petaluma, California, November 5, 1998
On November 5, 1998 at about 7:15 pm local time, 2 aircraft, amateur-built TIGER MOTH DH 82A (N838KC) and Cessna 152 (N68459), were involved in the same accident near Petaluma, California (Petaluma Muni airport). No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
Failure of the pilot in the Tiger Moth to see and avoid traffic. A contributing factor was the delayed reaction of the student pilot in the Cessna to initiate a turnoff of the taxiway once it became apparent that the other airplane did not see him.
Failure of the pilot in the Tiger Moth to see and avoid traffic. A contributing factor was the delayed reaction of the student pilot in the Cessna to initiate a turnoff of the taxiway once it became apparent that the other airplane did not see him.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 5, 1998 · about 7:15 pm local time
- Place
- Petaluma, California · Petaluma Muni · map
- Type
- Accident · collision on the ground
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft 1
- Amateur-built TIGER MOTH DH 82A TIGER MOTH
- Registration
- N838KC · registry record · serial NL-838
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
- Aircraft 2
- Cessna 152 · all 152s on the register
- Registration
- N68459 · registry record · serial 15282303
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative for the amateur-built TIGER MOTH DH 82A final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot of the Dehavilland Tiger Moth, N838KC, had turned off the runway after landing and was taxiing to the refueling pit. The pilot did not see another airplane on the taxiway during the turn. The Cessna 152, N68459, had just finished refueling and radioed that he was entering the taxiway to taxi to the active runway. When the Cessna was on the taxiway the pilot saw the Tiger Moth on the taxiway. At first the pilot was not able to determine which direction the Tiger Moth was moving in and as soon as he was able to tell that the Tiger Moth was headed towards him, he radioed that he was on the taxiway. The Tiger Moth continued towards the Cessna performing 'S' turns down the center of the taxiway. The Cessna again radioed that he was on the taxiway, and then attempted to exit the taxiway when it became apparent that the Tiger Moth did not see him. The Cessna reported that during the turn, he saw the front seat passenger turn his head in the direction of the Cessna. The left wings of both airplanes collided during the turn to avoid each other. There were no mechanical anomalies noted with either airplane.
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 NTSB's narrative for the Cessna 152 final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot of the Dehavilland Tiger Moth, N838KC, had turned off the runway after landing and was taxiing to the refueling pit. The pilot did not see another airplane on the taxiway during the turn. The Cessna 152, N68459, had just finished refueling and radioed that he was entering the taxiway to taxi to the active runway. When the Cessna was on the taxiway the pilot saw the Tiger Moth on the taxiway. At first the pilot was not able to determine which direction the Tiger Moth was moving in and as soon as he was able to tell that the Tiger Moth was headed towards him, he radioed that he was on the taxiway. The Tiger Moth continued towards the Cessna performing 'S' turns down the center of the taxiway. The Cessna again radioed that he was on the taxiway, and then attempted to exit the taxiway when it became apparent that the Tiger Moth did not see him. The Cessna reported that during the turn, he saw the front seat passenger turn his head in the direction of the Cessna. The left wings of both airplanes collided during the turn to avoid each other. There were no mechanical anomalies noted with either airplane.
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 for the amateur-built TIGER MOTH DH 82A from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 705 hours in all; 284 in this make and model; 669 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rear
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 28, 1998; 14 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,850 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: De Havilland I-C GIPSY MAJ (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 0Q3 Sonoma CA at 6:45 pm
- Destination: O69
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 29, 3,600 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 320° at 14 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 39°F (4°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:53 pm from STS, 22 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
The factual record for the Cessna 152 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: student
- Flight time: 21 hours in all; 18 in this make and model; 10 in the last 90 days; 4 in the last 30 days; 4 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 8,979 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, October 27, 1998; 8 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,670 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-L2C (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Aeroventure Clubs, INC.
The flight
- Departed from: O69
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
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.
Other NTSB records under N838KC the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, the folder of records gathered during the investigation, shown as the NTSB released them (the NTSB redacts some personal details first) and listed under the NTSB's own titles. This site's own text never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number LAX99LA025.