North Park in San Diego in San Diego County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)

PSA Flight 182

— St. Augustine High School —

Photographed by Craig Baker, March 16, 2026

1. PSA Flight 182 Marker

Inscription.
In an air catastrophe witnessed by Saintsmen on our campus and in the surrounding neighborhood on September 25, 1978, at 9:01 AM, there was a collision between a small airplane and PSA Flight 182 that led to a crash at nearby Dwight and Nile Streets. A total of 144 people died, both in the air and on the ground. The victims were first transported to this location, then Dougherty Gymnasium, until being moved to their final resting places.

St. Augustine High School is forever grateful for the heroism and faithful service of the First Responders, the Augustinians, and the North Park and San Diego communities. May the memory of the deceased, and all who served that day and the days that followed, be eternal.

Erected 2024 by St. Augustine High School.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Air & Space • Disasters. A significant historical date for this entry is September 25, 1978.

Location. 32° 44.134′ N, 117° 7.458′ W. Marker is in San Diego, California, in San Diego County. It is in North Park. It is on Palm Street east of 32nd Street, on the right when traveling east. Located near St. Augustine High School, next to the public sidewalk. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 3249 Palm St, San Diego CA 92104, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in California’s Peninsular Ranges.

It is also on the American Pacific Coast.

Globally, it is in North America,

on the Ring of Fire,

in the Pacific Rim,

in the Western Hemisphere,

in the Western World,

and in the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain

and also Mexico’s Alta California.

Other nearby markers. At least

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8 other markers are within 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: St. Augustine and His Heritage (about 600 feet away, measured in a direct line); Charles Toliver and his Airship (approx. 1.3 miles away); Balboa Park Carousel (approx. 1.3 miles away); 1915-16 Isthmus (Fun Zone) (approx. 1.3 miles away); Elmer C. Otto (approx. 1.4 miles away); Zoro Gardens Nudist Colony (approx. 1.4 miles away); Casa de Balboa (approx. 1.4 miles away); Casa del Prado (approx. 1.4 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in San Diego.

Regarding PSA Flight 182. Pacific Southwest Airlines Flight 182 was a flight from Sacramento to San Diego, with a stopover at Los Angeles. The aircraft was a Boeing 727 that collided with a private Cessna 172 over San Diego. It was the deadliest air disaster in California history. At the time, it was the deadliest air crash to occur in the United States.

PSA 182 crashed just north of the intersection of Dwight and Nile Streets, killing all 135 people aboard along with seven people on the ground, including two children. The Cessna struck Polk Avenue between 32nd and Iowa Streets, killing the two pilots on board. Nine others on the ground were injured and a total of twenty-two homes were damaged or destroyed. A photograph of the PSA aircraft descending after the collision was taken by San Diego County employee

Photographed by Craig Baker, March 16, 2026

2. PSA Flight 182 Marker

Hans Wendt.

The probable cause of the accident was the failure to follow Air Traffic Control procedures. The PSA crew lost sight of the Cessna after ATC instructions to "keep visual separation from that traffic", and did not alert ATC that they had lost sight of it. Errors on the part of ATC were named as contributing factors, including the use of visual separation procedures when radar was available. Additionally, the Cessna pilots did not maintain their assigned heading, nor did they notify ATC of their course change.

As a result of this and other midair collisions, including an almost identical one in 1986 over Cerritos, the "Traffic Collision Alert and Avoidance System" (TCAS) is now installed in all commercial passenger aircraft. TCAS gives the pilots visual and audible warnings in the cockpit when two aircraft are approaching each other, and directs pilots to either climb or descend to avoid the other aircraft.

Related marker. Click here for another marker that is related to this marker. - A similar crash in 1986 over Cerritos, a suburb of Los Angeles.

Photographed by Craig Baker, March 16, 2026

3. PSA Flight 182 Marker

At the site of the old gymnasium, which was used as a temporary morgue.

Photographed by Craig Baker, March 16, 2026

4. PSA Flight 182 Marker

“This Memorial was inspired by the Class of 1980 with an initial gift in gratitude to the Augustinian Friars.”

St. Augustine High School image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Craig Baker

5. St. Augustine High School

PSA Flight 182 image. Click for full size.

courtesy San Diego Union-Tribune/Hans Wendt, September 25, 1978

6. PSA Flight 182

from Wikimedia Commons, September 25, 1978

7. PSA Flight 182

Photographed by Craig Baker, March 16, 2026

8. PSA Flight 182 Marker

This plaque is in the sidewalk at the southwest corner of Dwight and Nile Streets.

Credits. This page was last revised on March 25, 2026. It was originally submitted on September 25, 2025, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California. This page has been viewed 138 times since then and 58 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on September 25, 2025, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California. 3, 4. submitted on March 16, 2026, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California. 5, 6, 7. submitted on September 25, 2025, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California. 8. submitted on March 25, 2026, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California.