# NTSB LAX98LA315: Cessna 150L, N19063, Oroville, CA, September 19, 1998

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: September 19, 1998, 11:30 local (18:30 UTC)
- Place: Oroville, CA
- Coordinates: 39.44918, -121.389633 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.4492&lon=-121.3896&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report April 20, 2000
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 45122
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX98LA315
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/45122/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX98LA315

## Probable cause

Failure of the pilot to maintain proper clearance and subsequently striking a hangar door while taxiing to parking.

## Sequence of events

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

- On ground/water collision with object, taxi - from landing
  - object - hangar/airport building
  - clearance - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

The pilot stated that as he was taxiing back to the hangar, he misjudged the distance between the hangar door and the right wing of the airplane.  The right wing struck the hangar door resulting in substantial damage.

## Factual narrative

On September 19, 1998, at 1130 hours Pacific daylight time, a Cessna 150L, N19063, collided with an open hangar door while taxiing back to the hangar after landing at the Oroville, California, airport.  The aircraft, operated under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91, sustained substantial damage.  The commercial pilot/owner was not injured.  Visual meteorological conditions existed for the personal flight and no flight plan was filed.

The pilot reported that after landing he taxied to a compass rose that was painted on the ground between helipads to check the accuracy of the aircraft's magnetic compass.  After checking the accuracy of the aircraft's magnetic compass, the pilot taxied the aircraft to the hanger.  The pilot stated that as he was taxiing back he misjudged the distance between the hangar door and the right wing of the aircraft struck the door.

The accident was reported to the Safety Board on October 16, 1998.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N19063](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N19063), registered now, S/N 15074135, built 1972 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Cessna 150L
- Registry model: [Cessna 150L](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-150l) (registry code 2071826) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental 0-200 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-200-series) (registry code 17020, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 15074135
- Airframe hours: 4609
- Engines: Continental O-200-A 100 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Jerry S.  & Frances Fitzgerald
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, August 6, 1998, 9 hours before
- Departed: OVE
- Airport: OVE, Oroville Muni

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 63; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 714 total, 641 in this make and model, 601 as pilot in command, 18 in the last 90 days, 6 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 310° at 8 knots, gusting 12
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 72 °F
- Observed at: OVE

## 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 19980919039989A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980919039989A), Sep 19, 1998: Cessna 150L, Oroville, CA, Substantial damage. (-23) On September 19, 1998, a Cessna 150 collided with an open hangar door while taxiing to a specified hangar. According to the pilot who was not injured, he…

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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