# NTSB LAX73FUG52: Cessna 150H, N3901C, Joshua Tree, CA, May 12, 1973

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Closed
- Date: May 12, 1973
- Place: Joshua Tree, CA · JOSHUA TREE, CA
- Location: 34.1347° N, 116.3131° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Joshua Tree, CA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.1347&lon=-116.3131&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report July 26, 1973
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 190118
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX73FUG52
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX73FUG52

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-1806  73/5/12    JOSHUA TREE,CALIF   CESSNA 150H         CR-  0  0  1  INSTRUCTIONAL             STUDENT, AGE 50, 32 TOTAL
        TIME - 1130                    N3901C              PX-  0  0  0  TRAINING                  HOURS, ALL IN TYPE, NOT
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - HI-DESERT
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          UPLAND,CALIF                JOSHUA TREE,CALIF
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           OVERSHOOT                                                LANDING: LEVEL OFF/TOUCHDOWN
           GEAR COLLAPSED                                           LANDING: ROLL
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - SELECTED WRONG RUNWAY RELATIVE TO EXISTING WIND
           PILOT IN COMMAND - MISJUDGED DISTANCE AND SPEED
           PILOT IN COMMAND - FAILED TO INITIATE GO-AROUND
        FACTOR(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT PREPARATION AND/OR PLANNING
           PILOT IN COMMAND - ATTEMPTED OPERATION BEYOND EXPERIENCE/ABILITY LEVEL
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - DOWNWIND
           WEATHER - UNFAVORABLE WIND CONDITIONS
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - OVERLOAD FAILURE
        WEATHER BRIEFING - NO RECORD OF BRIEFING RECEIVED
        WEATHER FORECAST - FORECAST SUBSTANTIALLY CORRECT
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          CLEAR                                                    UNLIMITED
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          5 OR OVER(UNLIMITED)                                     NONE
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  RELATIVE BEARING OF WIND
          NONE                                                     TAIL WIND 158-202 DEGREES
        TEMPERATURE-F                                            WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES
           80                                                       60
        WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS                                      TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS
           20                                                      VFR
        TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          NONE
        REMARKS- IP DIDNT AUTH FLT TO DEST.PLT COULDNT FIND WIND SOCK.LND ON LAST 1/4 OF RWY AND RAN INTO SAND DUNE
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N3901C](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N3901C), registered now, S/N 15069096, built 1968 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 150H
- Registry model: [Cessna 150H](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-150h) (registry code 2071818) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental 0-200 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-200-series) (registry code 17020, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Airport: Hi-Desert

## 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 19730512015949A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19730512015949A), May 12, 1973: Cessna A150K, Joshua Tree, CA, Substantial damage. Ip didnt auth flt to dest. Plt couldnt find wind sock. Lnd on last 1/4 of rwy and ran into sand dune

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.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.
