# NTSB LAX96LA265: Cessna 150L, N332CS, California City, CA, July 7, 1996 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 7, 1996, 12:30 local (19:30 UTC) - Place: California City, CA - Coordinates: 35.149921, -117.92044 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.1499&lon=-117.9204&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 2 minor - Status: Completed, report December 16, 1996 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 29501 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX96LA265 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/29501/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX96LA265 ## Probable cause The pilot's selection of an inadequate cruise altitude in an area of rising terrain and his failure to consider the effect of the high density altitude on the climb capability of the aircraft. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight collision with terrain/water, maneuvering - weather condition - high density altitude - performance data - not used, pilot in command (cause) - terrain condition - rising - altitude - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - descent - not corrected, pilot in command ## Analysis The pilot reported that he was helping his passenger look for his lost truck in the desert and was flying about 500 feet agl over an area of gradually rising terrain. The pilot stated that he encountered a downdraft and he could not arrest the rate of descent so he began a turn toward down sloping terrain. The pilot reported that the downdraft became stronger in the turn and when ground impact was eminent he rolled the wings level as the wheels contacted the ground. After a short ground roll the aircraft contacted a large bush, which nosed the aircraft over onto it's back. Based on a temperature report from the closest aviation weather reporting station and the pilot's reported ground elevation, the density altitude was calculated at 6,500 feet. ## Factual narrative On July 7, 1996, at 1230 hours Pacific daylight time, a Cessna 150L, N332CS, collided with brush and rising terrain near California City, California. The aircraft was operated by Caracole Soaring of California City and rented by the pilot for a local area personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and included light and variable wind conditions. The aircraft was destroyed in the ground collision sequence. The certificated airline transport pilot and his one passenger sustained minor injuries. The flight originated at the California City airport on the day of the accident at 1130. The pilot reported that he was helping his passenger look for his lost truck in the desert and was flying about 500 feet agl over an area of gradually rising terrain. The pilot stated that he encountered a downdraft and he could not arrest the rate of descent so he began a turn toward down sloping terrain. The pilot reported that the downdraft became stronger in the turn and when ground impact was eminent he rolled the wings level as the wheels contacted the ground. After a short ground roll the aircraft contacted a large bush, which nosed the aircraft over onto it's back. Based on a temperature report from the closest aviation weather reporting station and the pilot's reported ground elevation, the density altitude was calculated at 6,500 feet. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N332CS](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N332CS-1996-09-30), registration cancelled 1996-09-30, S/N 15075697 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 150L - Registry model: [Cessna 150L](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-150l) (registry code 2071826) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 15075697 - Airframe hours: 6079 - Engines: Continental O-200A 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Caracole Soaring - Registered owner: Charles J. Sprout - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, February 15, 1996, 23 hours before - Departed: L71 ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 40; flight instructor, airline transport, flight engineer; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 3,147 total, 927 in this make and model, 2,750 as pilot in command, 143 in the last 90 days, 82 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 230° at 14 knots - Visibility: 40 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 97 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: WJF ## 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 19960707016369A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19960707016369A), Jul 7, 1996: Cessna 150L, California City, CA, Destroyed. Looking for passengers lost truck at 500FT AGL. Encountered downdraft. Unable pullout. Hit bushes. Nosed over. 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.