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LAX90LA133

1990-04-02 · SANTA ROSA, California, United States · None · 1 aircraft · Status: Completed

Airport STS

N5169B has since been reassigned. It is now registered to a different aircraft (ZENITH STOL CH 701, built 2004), which was not involved in this event.

Aircraft involved

Probable cause & findings

FAILURE OF THE STUDENT PILOT TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE DURING THE TAKEOFF ROLL.

Factual narrative

ON APRIL 2, 1990, AT 1336 PDT, CESSNA 152 (N5169B) COLLIDED WITH A DITCH AND NOSED OVER DURING THE TAKEOFF GROUND RUN FROM RUNWAY 19, AT SONOMA COUNTY AIRPORT, SANTA ROSA, CALIFORNIA. THE CERTIFIED STUDENT PILOT WAS NOT INJURED AND THE AIRCRAFT SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED AT THE TIME. THE AIRCRAFT WAS BEING OPERATED BY DRAGONFLY AVIATION, INC OF SANTA ROSA, CALIFORNIA UNDER 14 CFR PART 91 AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. THE WINDS WERE REPORTED FROM 180 DEGREES AT 5 KNOTS. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_1990_LAX90LA133.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.

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