Cessna 152 accident near Turlock, California, February 18, 2009
On February 18, 2009 at about 6:00 pm local time, a Cessna 152, registered N48761, was substantially damaged in an accident during initial climb near Turlock, California (Turlock Municipal airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The loss of engine power due to carburetor icing resulting from the pilot's failure to apply carburetor heat. Contributing to the accident was the instructor's inadequate supervision of the flight.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 18, 2009 · about 6:00 pm local time
- Place
- Turlock, California · Turlock Municipal · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 152 · all 152s on the register
- Registration
- N48761 · no longer on the register · serial 15283368
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The flight instructor and student were performing a series of touch-and-go pattern operations. The instructor reported that the engine lost power during the initial climb. He took control of the airplane from the student and verified that the mixture was fully enriched and the fuel shut off valve was in the "on" position. These actions had no effect, so he executed a forced landing in a nearby field. During the landing roll, the nosewheel sunk into the soft ground and the airplane nosed over and came to rest inverted. A postaccident examination of the engine by a licensed airframe and powerplant mechanic revealed that the bottom spark plugs of the number one and four cylinders exhibited evidence of water. Water was observed within the fuel sump; however, no water contamination was found in the fuel drained from the airplane's tanks. The engine was successfully run at various speeds with no anomalies noted. Review of the carburetor ice probability chart revealed that the temperature and dew point near the time of the accident were conducive to serious icing at any power setting. The instructor did not report applying carburetor heat following the engine failure.
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
What happened, in order
- Loss of engine power (total) during initial climb defining event
- Off-field or emergency landing during emergency descent
- Nose over/nose down during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Engine controls › (general) › Not used/operated
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Lack of action › Pilot
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Temp/humidity/pressure › Conducive to carburetor icing › Effect on operation
- factor Personnel issues › Psychological › Attention/monitoring › Monitoring other person › Instructor/check pilot
Flight instructor
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 369 hours in all; 49 in this make and model; 117 in the last 90 days; 84 in the last 30 days; 314 as pilot in command; 105 on instruments
- Last flight review: January 10, 2009
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
Dual student
- Certificate: student
- Flight time: 33 hours in all; 33 in this make and model; 33 in the last 90 days; 28 in the last 30 days; 0 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 8,823 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, February 11, 2009
- Maximum gross weight: 1,670 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-L2C (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Ks Aviation Inc.
The flight
- Departed from: O15 Turlock CA at 6:00 pm
- Destination: O15 Turlock CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 30, 2,985 ft by 50 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 48°F (9°C), dew point 43°F (6°C)
- Altimeter: 30.29 inHg
- Observation at 5:53 pm from MCE, 15 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | 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.