# NTSB LAX86LA083: Cessna 150M, N63660, Ukiah, CA, January 8, 1986

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: January 7, 1986, 19:24 local (Jan 8, 1986, 03:24 UTC)
- Place: Ukiah, CA
- Coordinates: 39.11985, -123.28054 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.1198&lon=-123.2805&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 2 serious
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 25048
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX86LA083
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/25048/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX86LA083

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, descent - normal
  - fluid,fuel - exhaustion (contributing factor)
  - preflight planning/preparation - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
  - weather evaluation - poor, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - in-flight planning/decision - poor, pilot in command (cause)
  - fuel supply - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
- In flight collision with terrain/water, landing - flare/touchdown
  - light condition - dark night (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE ACFT'S ENG LOST PWR DURING A NORMAL DESCENT DURING A NIGHT X-COUNTRY FLT AND THE ACFT CRASHED DURING THE ENSUING FORCED LANDING ATTEMPT. FIRE DEPARTMENT PERSONNEL REPORTED THAT THE RIGHT WING FUEL TANK WAS EMPTY AND THE LEFT WING FUEL TANK CONTAINED ONE INCH OF FUEL. THE FUEL TANKS WERE TOPPED PRIOR TO DEPARTURE AND THE ACFT HAD FLOWN APRX THREE HRS AND FIVE MINUTES WHEN THE ENG QUIT. THE PLT REPORTED HAVING PREVIOUSLY MADE THE SAME FLT WITHOUT HAVING TO REFUEL, HOWEVER, WINDS ALOFT WERE STRONGER DURING THE ACCIDENT FLT THAN ON THE PREVIOUS FLT.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N63660](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N63660-2012-10-09), registration cancelled 2012-10-09, S/N 15077461, built 1975 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 150M
- Registry model: [Cessna 150M](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-150m) (registry code 2071830) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental 0-200 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-200-series) (registry code 17020, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 15077461
- Engines: CONTINENTAL O-200-A 100 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Roger S. Swidan
- Registered owner: Lake Co. Aviation
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility
- Last inspection: Annual, December 2, 1985, 44 hours before
- Departed: CEC, CRESCENT CITY, CA
- Destination: 102, LAKEPORT, CA
- Flight plan: VFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 35; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 146 total, 53 in this make and model, 97 as pilot in command, 70 in the last 90 days, 26 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 150° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 50 °F, dew point 45 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: UKI, 17 nm away

## 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 19860107000369A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19860107000369A), Jan 7, 1986: Cessna 150M, Ukiah, CA, Substantial damage. Ran out of fuel enroute. Overshot approach to a road on the forced landing and collided with a large redwood tree.

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.