- Date
- November 28, 1993, 10:30 local (18:30 UTC)
- Place
- Dardanelle, CA
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Initial climb
- Aircraft
- N22474Cessna 150H
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report September 26, 1994
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19931128044589A
- Case key
- 28609
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot misjudged the local weather. The wind conditions and the pilot's inability to compensate for the strong downdraft wind conditions were factors.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
According to the pilot, he was familiar with the lake area which was located in a canyon. The pilot was aware that he could not see the far end of the lake nor the canyon area beyond the lake where he planned to climb out. Prior to taking off in the float-equipped airplane, the pilot recalled that he had looked in the distance and observed water that was a deeper blue in color. This indicated the presence of stronger winds. The pilot reported that he did not perceive this as being 'abnormal' because the wind pattern for the lake was for the up-canyon blowing winds to increase in strength in the midmorning. During initial climb, a previously hidden 'cell of virga' was encountered. The pilot stated that he turned away from the cell, but encountered strong turbulence and windshear which was accompanied by a downburst. Unable to arrest the sink rate, the airplane contacted the water in a 'high rate of descent.'
Factual narrative
On November 28, 1993, at 1030 Pacific standard time, a float equipped Cessna 150H, N22474, collided with rough water during initial climb from the Donnells Reservoir, near Dardanelle, California. The airplane was substantially damaged. Neither the airline transport pilot nor passenger was injured during the personal flight which was originating at the time of the mishap. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed.
The pilot reported that prior to taking off he had looked in the distance and observed water that was a deeper blue color, and that color indicated the presence of strong winds. This was not perceived as being "abnormal" or any hazard to flight because the normal wind pattern for the lake was for the up-canyon blowing winds to increase in strength in the midmorning.
The pilot further reported that initially the weather conditions appeared satisfactory for takeoff. However, he could not see the far end of the lake nor the canyon area beyond the lake where his climb would continue.
During initial climb, a previously hidden "cell of virga" was encountered. The pilot stated that he turned away from the cell, but encountered strong turbulence and windshear which was accompanied by the downburst. Unable to arrest the sink rate, the airplane contacted the water in a "high rate of descent."
The pilot further reported that he was familiar with the accident site area in the Sierra Nevada Mountains, and he had frequently instructed there. No mechanical problems were experienced with the airplane.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N22474
- Reported as
- Cessna 150H
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 15068305
- Airframe hours
- 5,408
- Engine
- Lycoming O-320-E2D, 150 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Norcal Aviation
- Registered owner
- Robert Davids
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · October 1, 1993 · 43 hours before
- Destination
- Angels Camp, CA
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 27
- Certificates
- Airline transport, Flight instructor
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine sea, Multi-engine land, Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 1, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Right
- Flight hours
- 2,868 total · 476 in this make and model · 2,768 as pilot in command · 202 in the last 90 days · 64 in the last 30 days · 3 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 0° at 20 knots
- Visibility
- 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 4,000 ft broken
- Temperature
- 45 °F
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.
Other investigations on N22474 · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.