# NTSB LAX86LA124: Cessna 150J, N60816, Los Banos, CA, February 25, 1986

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: February 24, 1986, 20:50 local (Feb 25, 1986, 04:50 UTC)
- Place: Los Banos, CA
- Coordinates: 37.070724, -120.839599 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.0707&lon=-120.8396&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 25079
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX86LA124
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/25079/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX86LA124

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, cruise
  - fluid,fuel - exhaustion (cause)
  - preflight planning/preparation - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, landing
  - terrain condition - ditch (contributing factor)
  - light condition - night (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE PILOT STATED THAT HE OVERFLEW HIS DESTINATION AIRPORT WHILE ON A NIGHT CROSS-COUNTRY FLIGHT. HE TURNED AROUND AND WAS PROCEEDING BACK WHEN THE ENGINE QUIT 20 MILES SHORT OF HIS INTENDED DESTINATION. THE AIRCRAFT HIT A DITCH DURING THE ENSUING FORCED LANDING ATTEMPT. ACCORDING TO THE LOCAL SHERIFF'S DEPUTY, THE PILOT STATED THAT HE BELIEVED THAT HE RAN OUT OF FUEL.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N60816](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N60816-2015-05-06), registration cancelled 2015-05-06, S/N 15070596, built 1969 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 150J
- Registry model: [Cessna 150J](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-150j) (registry code 2071820) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental 0-200 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-200-series) (registry code 17020, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 70596
- Airframe hours: 5525
- Engines: CONTINENTAL O-200-A 100 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Howard Winter
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, September 20, 1985, 43 hours before
- Departed: Q40, ELK GROVE, CA
- Destination: LSN, LOS BANOS, CA

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 53; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 306 total, 145 in this make and model, 242 as pilot in command, 21 in the last 90 days, 15 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/bright
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none

## 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 19860224071519A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19860224071519A), Feb 24, 1986: Cessna 150J, Los Banos, CA, Substantial damage. Pilot became disoriented. Engine failed from fuel exhaustion. Landed in a shallow drainage ditch at night.

## Other investigations on N60816 (2)

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 LAX06CA245](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX06CA245), Jul 26, 2006: Cessna 150J (N60816), Napa, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: a loss of engine power due to fuel starvation. The fuel starvation was the result of the pilot's inadequate preflight preparation (failure to refuel the airplane before taking off) and his inadequate…
- [NTSB OAK72DVM04](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/OAK72DVM04), Aug 14, 1971: Cessna 150 (N60816), San Jose, CA, substantial damage

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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