# NTSB LAX87FA045: Cessna 150L, N18235, Lake Isabella, CA, November 17, 1986

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: November 17, 1986, 12:40 local (20:40 UTC)
- Place: Lake Isabella, CA
- Coordinates: 35.640647, -118.45993 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.6406&lon=-118.4599&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal
- Status: Completed, report March 10, 1988
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 25359
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX87FA045
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/25359/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX87FA045

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - in flight, climb - to cruise
  - flight into known adverse weather - intentional, pilot in command (cause)
  - overconfidence in personal ability, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - lack of total experience in type of aircraft, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- Loss of control - in flight, climb - to cruise
  - terrain condition - mountainous/hilly (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - obscuration (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - turbulence (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

THE AIRCRAFT DEPARTED THE KERN VALLEY AIRPORT, KERNVILLE, CALIFORNIA, ON A DIRECT CROSS-COUNTRY ROUTE TO ITS HOME BASE AT GENERAL WILLIAM J. FOX AIRFIELD, LANCASTER, CALIFORNIA. THE FLIGHT ROUTE WAS OVER MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN THAT WAS OBSCURED BY CLOUDS. A FLIGHT PLAN WAS NOT FILED AND THE CREW DID NOT RECEIVE A WEATHER BRIEFING. A PILOT WHO DEPARTED KERN VALLEY AIRPORT APPROXIMATELY 30 MINUTES AFTER THE ACCIDENT AIRCRAFT AND FLEW BY GENERAL FOX AIRFIELD STATED THE CEILING WAS AT 5500 TO 6500 FEET MSL AND HE ELECTED TO MAINTAIN VISUAL CONTACT WITH THE GROUND BY FLYING OVER VALLEYS THUS CIRCUMNAVIGATING THE HIGHER TERRAIN. WHEN THE PILOTS DID NOT REPORT FOR WORK FOR THE AFTERNOON SHIFT ON NOVEMBER 17, 1986 FRIENDS REPORTED THEM OVERDUE TO THE FAA FLIGHT SERVICE STATION. DUE TO THE LOW CEILINGS ALONG THE AIRCRAFT'S ASSUMED FLIGHT ROUTE AND AERIAL SEARCH COULD NOT BE CONDUCTED. THE GROUND SEARCH RESCUE CREW LOCATED THE AIRCRAFT'S WRECKAGE AT APPROXIMATELY, 1450 PDT.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N18235 (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 150L
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 15073888
- Airframe hours: 4119
- Engines: CONTINENTAL O-200-A 100 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Pacific Aero Club Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, August 2, 1987, 35 hours before
- Departed: KIC, KERNVILLE, CA
- Destination: WJF, LANCASTER, CA
- Airport: KIC, Kern Valley

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 27; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 141 total, 6 in this make and model, 72 as pilot in command, 6 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 10,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 66 °F, dew point -0 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: NID, 35 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 19861117087249A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19861117087249A), Nov 17, 1986: Cessna 150L, Lake Isabella, CA, Destroyed. Struck the side of a mountain at an elevation reported to be obscured by 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.

---
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.