Cessna 152 accident near Carlsbad, California, September 4, 2026
On September 4, 2026 at about 7:00 pm local time, a 1980 Cessna 152, registered N5447L, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Carlsbad, California (Mcclellan-Palomar Airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 4, 2026 · about 7:00 pm local time · cases in 2026
- Place
- Carlsbad, California · Mcclellan-Palomar Airport · cases near this airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 152, built 1980 · all 152s on the register
- Registration
- N5447L · registry record · serial 15284317
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Hard landing during landing (flare/touchdown) defining event
The aircraft
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Operator: Pinnacle Aviation Services INC
The flight
- Departed from: SBD San Bernardino CA at 5:54 pm
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 240° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 57°F (14°C)
- Altimeter: 29.94 inHg
- Observation at 12:00 pm from KCRQ
Weather report (METAR): METAR KCRQ 041853Z 24007KT 10SM CLR 23/14 A2994 RMK AO2 SLP135 T02280144
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The NTSB has not released the docket for this case yet. The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), is usually released when the investigation is nearly complete, and the list here is refreshed when it appears. Check at the NTSB.
Other NTSB records under N5447L the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N5447L 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 72,677 aircraft on the register
- MC Clellan-Palomar Airport · nearest airport
- San Bernardino International · departed from
- Accidents and incidents in California 9,080 since 1982 · 1,096 in the last ten years
- California 28,158 aircraft registered
- Other NTSB records under N5447L 1 records · the number may have belonged to another aircraft at the time
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/WPR26LA332.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.