# NTSB OAK78DA021: Cessna 150, N8991U, Eureka, CA, March 6, 1978

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: March 6, 1978
- Place: Eureka, CA · EUREKA, CA
- Location: 40.7990° N, 124.1540° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Eureka, CA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.7990&lon=-124.1540&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal, 1 serious
- Status: Completed, report April 6, 1978
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 158626
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=OAK78DA021
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/OAK78DA021

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-0339   78/3/6  NR.EUREKA,CA          CESSNA 150          CR-  0  1  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 31, 150
        TIME - 1530                    N8991U              PX-  1  0  0  AERIAL SURVEY             TOTAL HOURS, 83 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
         EUREKA,CA                    LOCAL
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           ENGINE FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION                            IN FLIGHT: OTHER
           STALL                                                    IN FLIGHT: OTHER
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - IMPROPER OPERATION OF POWERPLANT & POWERPLANT CONTROLS
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - ANTI-ICING/DEICING EQUIPMENT-IMPROPER OPERATION OF/OR FAILED TO USE
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - ICE-CARBURETOR
           PILOT IN COMMAND - FAILED TO OBTAIN/MAINTAIN FLYING SPEED
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - CONDITIONS CONDUCIVE TO CARB./INDUCTION SYSTEM ICING
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - AIRCRAFT CAME TO REST IN WATER
        COMPLETE POWER LOSS - COMPLETE ENGINE FAILURE/FLAMEOUT-1 ENGINE
        WEATHER BRIEFING - SELF-HELP,PILOT CHECKED WEATHER DATA
        WEATHER FORECAST - FORECAST SUBSTANTIALLY CORRECT
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          OVERCAST/LOWER SCATTERED                                  1700
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          5 OR OVER(UNLIMITED)                                     RAIN SHOWERS
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TEMPERATURE-F
          NONE                                                      54
        WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES                                   WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS
          330                                                       10
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          VFR                                                      NONE
        REMARKS- MISHAP OCCURRED WHILE OBSERVING & PHOTOGRAPHING WHALES AT LOW ALTITUDE & AIRSPEED.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N8991U](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8991U-1978-09-15), registration cancelled 1978-09-15, S/N 15078041, built 1976 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 150
- Registry model: [Cessna 150M](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-150m) (registry code 2071830) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Airport: Murray Field

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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