# NTSB LAX73AL050: Cessna 150J, N60395, Tehachapi, CA, April 14, 1973

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: April 14, 1973
- Place: Tehachapi, CA · TEHACHAPI, CA
- Location: 35.1430° N, 118.4460° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Tehachapi, CA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.1430&lon=-118.4460&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Uncontrolled descent](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/650) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report June 7, 1973
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 170564
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX73AL050
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX73AL050

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-0902  73/4/14    TEHACHAPI,CALIF     CESSNA 150J         CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 42, 60 TOTAL
        TIME - 1410                    N60395              PX-  0  0  0  BUSINESS                  HOURS, 59 IN TYPE, NOT
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - TEHACHAPI
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          BAKERSFIELD,CALIF           TWENTYNINE PMS,CALIF
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: UNCONTROLLED                IN FLIGHT: UNCONTROLLED DESCENT
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - CONTINUED VFR FLIGHT INTO ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS
           PILOT IN COMMAND - EXERCISED POOR JUDGMENT
           PILOT IN COMMAND - IMPROPER IN-FLIGHT DECISIONS OR PLANNING
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - LOW CEILING
           WEATHER - SNOW
           WEATHER - FOG
        WEATHER BRIEFING - BRIEFED BY FLIGHT SERVICE PERSONNEL, IN PERSON
        WEATHER FORECAST - FORECAST SUBSTANTIALLY CORRECT
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED                                      200
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          3 MILES OR LESS                                          SNOW
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TEMPERATURE-F
          FOG                                                       28
        WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES                                   WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS
          315                                                       8
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          IFR                                                      VFR
        REMARKS- FSS WX BRIEFER DISCOURAGED FLT BELOW CLOUDS.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N60395](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N60395-1973-06-25), registration cancelled 1973-06-25, S/N 15070279 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 150J
- Registry model: [Cessna 150J](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-150j) (registry code 2071820) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Airport: Tehachapi

## 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 19730414007639A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19730414007639A), Apr 14, 1973: Cessna 150J, Tehachapi, CA, Destroyed. Fss wx briefer discouraged flt below clouds.

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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