# Accident 20080418833209A: Cessna 150J, Cherry Creek, CA, April 18, 2008

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: April 18, 2008, 12:45 local time
- Place: Cherry Creek, CA
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Climb
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 38.0564° N, 119.9008° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.0564&lon=-119.9008&mi=10
- Aircraft: N60760, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N60760-2018-01-25) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Cessna 150J (registry code 2071820, https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-150j) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Continental 0-200 series (registry code 17020, https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-200-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 150J
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 2
- Pilot flight hours: 7,000 total, 200 in this make and model, 100 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB LAX08FA115](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX08FA115) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20080418833209A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

(-23) THE AIRCRAFT, OPERATED BY ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ OF A SEAPLANE SCHOOL WITH A SEA RATED COMMERCIAL PILOT/STUDENT ON BOARD, DEPARTED ITS BASE AT ALTAVILLE, CA (ELEV 1000'MSL) ON A LOCAL INSTRUCTIONAL FLIGHT AT 1220 PDT. VFR CONDITIONS PREVAILED AND NO FLIGHT PLAN WAS FILED. PRIOR TO TAKEOFF, THE INSTRUCTOR AND STUDENT WERE HEARD DISCUSSING A PROPOSED FLIGHT TO CHERRY LAKE (ELEV 4,500'MSL), A RESERVOIR LOCATED IN THE FOOTHILLS OF THE SIERRAS. WHEN THEY DID NOT RETURN FROM THE FLIGHT, FRIENDS INITIATED AN AIRBORNE SEARCH AND LOCATED THE WRECKAGE IN A CANYON APPROXIMATELY 2 MILES NORTH OF CHERRY LAKE. INVESTIGATORS DETERMINED THAT THE SEAPLANE IMPACTED THE TERRAIN IN A NOSE DOWN ATTITUDE, AND AT A LOW SPEED. THE SEAPLANE WAS FOUND IN THE MIDDLE OF THE CANYON (ELEV 5180'MSL) ON A LARGE GRANITE BOULDER WITH SURROUNDING TREES. THE DIRECTION OF IMPACT WAS TOWARDS THE NORTH AND RISING TERRAIN. PHOTOGRAPHS TAKEN BY THE STUDENT DURING THE ACCIDENT FLIGHT WERE RECOVERED AND CONTAINED EVIDENCE THAT THE AIRPLANE HAD MADE AN APPROACH TO CHERRY LAKE TOWARDS THE SOUTH, FOLLOWED BY A DEPARTURE TO THE NORTH UP THE CANYON IN THE DIRECTION OF THE ACCIDENT SITE AT AN APPARENTLY LOW ALTITUDE AND IN THE DIRECTION OF RISING TERRAIN.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

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.

- [NTSB LAX08FA115](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX08FA115), Apr 18, 2008: Cessna 150J (N60760), Sonora, CA, substantial damage, 2 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain airspeed while maneuvering, resulting in an aerodynamic stall and loss of aircraft control. Contributing to the accident were rising mountainous terrain and a high…

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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