# NTSB LAX90FA112: Cessna 150J, N152EZ, Pine Valley, CA, March 10, 1990

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: March 10, 1990, 14:50 local (22:50 UTC)
- Place: Pine Valley, CA
- Location: 32.8415° N, 116.5107° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Pine Valley, CA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.8415&lon=-116.5107&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report December 14, 1992
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 26619
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX90FA112
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/26619/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX90FA112

## Probable cause

THE DECISION OF THE PILOT TO CONTINUE VFR FLIGHT INTO INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS, SPATIAL DISORIENTATION AND INADVERTENT STALL/SPIN. FACTORS WERE: OBSCURATION, LOW CEILING, AND OVER-CONFIDENCE IN ABILITY.

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight encounter with weather, cruise - normal
  - terrain condition - mountainous/hilly (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - obscuration (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - low ceiling (contributing factor)
  - preflight briefing service - not obtained, pilot in command
  - in-flight weather advisories - not obtained, pilot in command
  - vfr flight into imc - intentional, pilot in command (cause)
  - overconfidence in personal ability, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- Loss of control - in flight, maneuvering - turn to reverse direction
  - stall/spin - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)
  - spatial disorientation, pilot in command
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

NO RECORD WAS FOUND TO SUBSTANTIATE THAT THE STUDENT HAD EVER BEEN GIVEN ANY DUAL INSTRUCTION. HIS CERTIFICATE WAS NOT ENDORSED FOR SOLO OR SOLO CROSS COUNTRY PRIVILEGES. NO EVIDENCE WAS FOUND THAT THE PILOT OBTAINED ANY PREFLIGHT WEATHER INFORMATION FOR HIS ROUTE OF FLIGHT. A RANGE OF COASTAL MOUNTAINS SEPARATES THE DEPARTURE AND DESTINATION AIRPORTS, AND A MAJOR INTERSTATE HIGHWAY TRAVERSES THE RANGE IN A SYSTEM OF VALLEYS. THE ACCIDENT SITE WAS LOCATED ABOUT ONE MILE SOUTH OF THE HIGHWAY NEAR THE CREST OF A MOUNTAIN AT AN ELEVATION OF 4,200 FT MSL. EXAMINATION OF THE SITE REVEALED THE AIRCRAFT IMPACTED THE GROUND IN A STEEP NOSE DOWN ATTITUDE WHILE ROTATING TO THE RIGHT. SEARCH AND RESCUE HELICOPTER PILOTS RETURNING FROM ANOTHER AIRCRAFT ACCIDENT SITE FLEW NEAR THE LOCATION ABOUT ONE HOUR AFTER THE ACCIDENT. THE PILOTS REPORTED THAT THE TOPS OF THE MOUNTAINS WERE OBSCURED IN CLOUDS AND SNOW SHOWERS.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N152EZ](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N152EZ-2012-06-28), registration cancelled 2012-06-28, S/N 15070726, 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: 15070726
- Engines: CONTINENTAL O-200-A 100 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Deloy R. E. Koops
- Departed: YUM, YUMA, AZ
- Destination: SEE, EL CAJON, CA

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 61; student; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; toxicology performed; flight hours: 200 total, 200 in this make and model, 200 as pilot in command, 30 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Temperature: -0 °F, dew point -0 °F

## 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 19900310003589A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19900310003589A), Mar 10, 1990: Cessna 150J, Pine Valley, CA, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Impacted cloud obscured mountain trying to follow a freeway VFR in snow showers. No endorsements on student permit.

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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