Cessna 152 and Cessna 152 accident near Hillsboro, Oregon, March 7, 2023
On March 7, 2023 at about 8:04 pm local time, 2 aircraft, Cessna 152 (N25233) and Cessna 152 (N6460M), were involved in the same accident near Hillsboro, Oregon (Portland-Hillsboro 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
The student pilot’s failure to see and avoid another airplane during taxi.
The student pilot’s failure to see and avoid another airplane during taxi.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 7, 2023 · about 8:04 pm local time · cases in 2023
- Place
- Hillsboro, Oregon · Portland-Hillsboro · cases near this airport · 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
- Cessna 152, built 1977 · all 152s on the register
- Registration
- N25233 · registry record · serial 15280545
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
- Aircraft 2
- Cessna 152, built 1981 · all 152s on the register
- Registration
- N6460M · registry record · serial 15284742
- Damage
- Minor damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative for the Cessna 152 final · quoted from the NTSB record
The student pilot reported that, he was taxiing on the parking row centerline and did not see that another airplane had moved and came to a stop about 5 feet into the taxiway. The left wing of the taxing airplane collided with the propeller of the other airplane, resulting in substantial damage to the left wing and aileron. The other airplane sustained minor damage to the propeller. The pilots of both airplanes reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions and failures with the airplanes that would have precluded normal operation.
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 student pilot reported that, he was taxiing on the parking row centerline and did not see that another airplane had moved and came to a stop about 5 feet into the taxiway. The left wing of the taxing airplane collided with the propeller of the other airplane, resulting in substantial damage to the left wing and aileron. The other airplane sustained minor damage to the propeller. The pilots of both airplanes reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions and failures with the airplanes that would have precluded normal operation.
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 Cessna 152 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Ground collision during taxi defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Psychological › Attention/monitoring › Monitoring other aircraft › Student/instructed pilot
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Aircraft › Effect on operation
Dual student
- Flight time: 91 hours in all; 91 in this make and model; 10 in the last 90 days; 10 in the last 30 days; 1 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 8,964.4 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 14, 2023; 78.5 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,670 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-2LC (piston); 9,804 hours total
- Operator: Hillsboro Aero Academy LLC
The flight
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Sky: overcast at 3,300 ft
- Temperature: 36°F (2°C), dew point 36°F (2°C)
- Altimeter: 30.04 inHg
- Observation at 11:53 am from KHIO
Weather report (METAR): METAR KHIO 070753Z AUTO 00000KT 10SM OVC033 02/02 A3004 RMK AO2 SLP174 T00220022 401000011=
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
The factual record for the Cessna 152 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Ground collision during standing (engine(s) operating) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Psychological › Attention/monitoring › Monitoring other aircraft › Pilot of other aircraft
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Aircraft › Effect on operation
Flight instructor
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Last flight review: December 13, 2022
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
Dual student
- Flight time: 19 hours in all; 19 in this make and model; 19 in the last 90 days; 13 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 17,175 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 6, 2023; 88 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,670 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: Lycoming 0-235 SERIES; 0 hours total
- Engine 2: Lycoming O-235-L2C (piston); 7,140 hours total
- Operator: Hillsboro Aero Academy LLC
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- A second pilot was aboard
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 |
Photographs from the investigation 1 picture from the NTSB's docket, as the NTSB released them
The NTSB's photographs with the NTSB's captions, at screen size. Open a picture to see it full size or to report one that should not be shown.
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
3 documents, released by the NTSB on April 27, 2023. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 11 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 N25233 | PDF, 11 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Photos | PDF, 1 page · our copy | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N25233 on the register today · the tail number may have moved to another aircraft since
- Cessna 152 1,636 registered today · the model family and its accident history
- Cessna 72,682 aircraft on the register
- N6460M on the register today · the tail number may have moved to another aircraft since
- Cessna 152 1,636 registered today · the model family and its accident history
- Cessna 72,682 aircraft on the register
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-2LC 6,132 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Engine: Lycoming 0-235 SERIES 6,132 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Portland-Hillsboro Airport · nearest airport
- Accidents and incidents in Oregon 1,864 since 1982 · 279 in the last ten years
- Oregon 7,008 aircraft registered
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/WPR23LA123.json.
The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.
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 does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.