Cessna 152 and Cessna 172S accident near Long Beach, California, August 1, 2023
On August 1, 2023 at about 11:37 pm local time, 2 aircraft, Cessna 152 (N46393) and Cessna 172S (N65537), were involved in the same accident near Long Beach, California (Long Beach (Daugherty Fld) airport). No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The flight instructor’s inattention during ground operations, which resulted in unintentional movement of the airplane and ground collision with another airplane.
The flight instructor’s inattention during ground operations, which resulted in unintentional movement of the airplane and ground collision with another airplane.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 1, 2023 · about 11:37 pm local time · cases in 2023
- Place
- Long Beach, California · Long Beach (Daugherty Fld) · cases near this airport · map
- Type
- Accident · collision on the ground
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft 1
- Cessna 152, built 1986 · all 152s on the register
- Registration
- N46393 · registry record · serial 15283042
- Damage
- Minor damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
- Aircraft 2
- Cessna 172S, built 2004 · all 172Ss on the register
- Registration
- N65537 · registry record · serial 172S9726
- Damage
- Substantial 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 in a Cessna 152 reported that, after completing the engine start procedure checklist, he set the parking brake and both he and the instructor placed their feet on the brake pedals. As both pilots looked down to plug in their headsets the airplane rolled forward and struck the right wing of a Cessna 172 that was taxiing in front of them. As a result of the collision, the Cessna 172’s right wing was substantially damaged. The flight crews of both airplanes reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with their 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 172S final · quoted from the NTSB record
The student pilot in a Cessna 152 reported that, after completing the engine start procedure checklist, he set the parking brake and both he and the instructor placed their feet on the brake pedals. As both pilots looked down to plug in their headsets the airplane rolled forward and struck the right wing of a Cessna 172 that was taxiing in front of them. As a result of the collision, the Cessna 172’s right wing was substantially damaged. The flight crews of both airplanes reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with their 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 › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Instructor/check pilot
- Personnel issues › Psychological › Attention/monitoring › Monitoring equip/instruments › Instructor/check pilot
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Aircraft › Response/compensation
- Personnel issues › Psychological › Attention/monitoring › Monitoring other aircraft › Student/instructed pilot
Flight instructor
- Certificate: flight instructor
- Ratings: multi-engine sea; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,040 hours in all; 400 in this make and model; 200 in the last 90 days; 63 in the last 30 days; 1,003 as pilot in command; 600 on instruments
- Last flight review: August 16, 2022
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
Dual student
- Certificate: student
- Flight time: 3.4 hours in all; 3.4 in this make and model; 2.4 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 1,670 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming I0-235 SERIES (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Aces High Aviation LLC
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 300° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 63°F (17°C)
- Altimeter: 29.93 inHg
- Observation at 4:53 pm from KLGB
Weather report (METAR): KLGB 012353Z 30010KT 10SM CLR 29/17 A2993 RMK AO2 SLP133 T02940167 10328 20261 56016
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 |
The factual record for the Cessna 172S from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Ground collision during taxi defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Aircraft › Response/compensation
- Personnel issues › Psychological › Attention/monitoring › Monitoring other aircraft › 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: 1,624 hours in all; 1,573 in this make and model; 222 in the last 90 days; 78 in the last 30 days; 1,477 as pilot in command; 1,287 on instruments
- Last flight review: May 16, 2023
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 152 hours in all; 152 in this make and model; 4 in the last 90 days; 2 in the last 30 days; 45 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: July 25, 2021
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 9,684 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, July 21, 2023
- Maximum gross weight: 2,550 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360-L2A (piston); 379 hours total
- Operator: Aces High Aviation LLC
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- A second pilot was aboard
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 |
Photographs from the investigation 2 pictures from the NTSB's docket, as the NTSB released them
Photo 1 – View of propeller damage of N46393, Cessna 150.
Photo 2 – View of Cessna 172 right-wing damage. (PhotosThe 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
4 documents, released by the NTSB on November 16, 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 N46393 | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120 N65537 | PDF, 11 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Video File | video | View Download |
| 4 | Photos | PDF, 2 pages · 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
- N46393 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 72,685 aircraft on the register
- N65537 on the register today · the tail number may have moved to another aircraft since
- Cessna 172 Skyhawk 20,683 registered today · the model family and its accident history
- Cessna 72,685 aircraft on the register
- Engine: Lycoming I0-235 SERIES · as the NTSB recorded it
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360-L2A 2,648 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Long Beach (Daugherty Field) · nearest airport
- Accidents and incidents in California 9,080 since 1982 · 1,097 in the last ten years
- California 27,727 aircraft registered
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/WPR23LA298.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.