# NTSB LAX93FA144: Cessna 152, N48860, Apple Valley, CA, March 8, 1993

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: March 7, 1993, 17:35 local (Mar 8, 1993, 01:35 UTC)
- Place: Apple Valley, CA
- Coordinates: 34.56974, -117.149681 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.5697&lon=-117.1497&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal, 1 serious
- Status: Completed, report November 15, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 27827
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX93FA144
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/27827/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX93FA144

## Probable cause

THE PILOT INADVERTENTLY STALLED THE AIRPLANE NEAR THE GROUND. THE INTENTIONAL BUZZING, OVER CONFIDENCE IN HIS PERSONAL ABILITY, AND POOR INFLIGHT PLANNING/DECISION WERE FACTORS.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of control - in flight, maneuvering
  - in-flight planning/decision - poor, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - buzzing - intentional, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - overconfidence in personal ability, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - stall - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled
  - terrain condition - rising

## Analysis

THE PILOT RENTED THE AIRPLANE DURING THE AFTERNOON FOR A PERSONAL FLIGHT WITH HIS DAUGHTER.  ACCORDING TO WITNESSES, HE WAS SEEN FLYING OVER HIS APARTMENT COMPLEX, CIRCLING AT LEAST TEN TIMES.   ANOTHER PILOT STATED THAT A FRIEND OF HIS TOLD HIM THAT THE PILOT HAD FLOWN OVER HER VEHICLE THE AFTERNOON OF THE ACCIDENT AND HE WAS 'YANKING AND BANKING' AT LOW LEVELS DOING STALLS.  THE AIRPLANE IMPACTED WITH THE GROUND AND THE AIRCRAFT CAME TO REST IN AN INVERTED POSITION. THE AIRPLANE WAS SIGHTED THE NEXT MORNING BY ANOTHER AIRPLANE.  SEARCH AND RESCUE PERSONNEL RESCUED THE SURVIVOR THE NEXT MORNING.  THE PILOT HAD A HISTORY OF PERFORMING LOW LEVEL MANUEVERS.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N48860](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N48860-2015-05-06), registration cancelled 2015-05-06, S/N 15281008, built 1977 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 152
- Registry model: [Cessna 152](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-152) (registry code 2071835) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-235 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-235-series) (registry code 41505, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 15281008
- Engines: LYCOMING O-235-L2C 118 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Midfield Aviation
- Registered owner: Midfield Aviation
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility
- Last inspection: 100 hour, March 2, 1993, 10 hours before

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 39; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 349 total, 13 in this make and model, 200 as pilot in command, 38 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Dusk
- Wind: 90° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 66 °F, dew point 41 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: DAG, 25 nm away

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19930307004569A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19930307004569A), Mar 7, 1993: Cessna 152, Apple Valley, CA, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Reported buzzing apartment and steep abrupt turns. Impacted ground and flipped over. History of reckles operation.

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

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