# NTSB WPR25LA305: Cessna 150F, N8171S, Lake Havasu City, AZ, September 26, 2025

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Preliminary report
- Date: September 26, 2025, 09:15 local (16:15 UTC)
- Place: Lake Havasu City, AZ · Dirt field
- Coordinates: 34.444664, -114.25221 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.4447&lon=-114.2522&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Enroute-cruise: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 2 minor
- Status: Investigation ongoing
- Investigation class: Class 3
- NTSB office: Western Pacific Region
- Parties: Federal Aviation Administration
- NTSB case key (mKey): 201794
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR25LA305
- NTSB preliminary report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/201794/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR25LA305

## Preliminary report

On September 26, 2025, at about 0915 mountain standard time, a Cessna 150F, N8171S, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Lake Havasu City, Arizona. The flight instructor and student pilot sustained minor injuries. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 positioning flight. The flight instructor reported he and the student pilot were relocating the recently purchased airplane from Marana Regional Airport (AVQ), Marana, Arizona to Boulder City Municipal Airport (BVU), Boulder City, Nevada with a planned fuel stop in Lake Havasu City Airport (HII), Lake Havasu, City, Arizona. He added that the night prior to the accident, the fuel tanks were topped off with fuel. Prior to departure, a preflight inspection was performed, which included a visual inspection of the fuel in the tanks and sumping of the tanks. No abnormalities were noted. During the flight, about 15 miles southeast of HII, the engine experienced a partial loss of power. After performing the emergency checklists, he was unable to restore engine power. The flight instructor stated that they were unable to maintain altitude and elected to initiate a forced landing to a highway. Due to the high amount of traffic on the highway, the flight instructor diverted to an open area nearby which was used for remote control airplane operations. During the approach to the field, the airplane overflew their intended landing area, struck a dirt berm and nosed over. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage and wings. The wreckage was recovered to a secure location for further examination.

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Enroute-cruise: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 150F, 12 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=2071814), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md)

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N8171S](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N8171S), registered now, S/N 15061771 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 150F
- Registry model: [Cessna 150F](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-150f) (registry code 2071814) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental 0-200 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-200-series) (registry code 17020, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 15061771
- Year built: 1966
- Airframe hours: 9521.8
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Positioning, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, October 8, 2024
- Departed: AVQ, Marana, AZ
- Destination: HII, Lake Havasu City, AZ
- Airport: HII, Lake Havasu City, runway 14/32, 8,000 × 100 ft, asphalt
- Equipment: Electronic flight bag or handheld device, ADS-B, Stall warning system

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 180° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 52 °F
- Altimeter: 29.79 inHg
- Observed at: KHII, 6 nm away
- METAR: METAR KHII 261615Z AUTO 18008KT 10SM CLR 29/11 A2979

## Other investigations on N8171S (1)

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.

- [NTSB NYC66F0636](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC66F0636), Apr 17, 1966: Cessna 150 (N8171S), Bedford, MA, substantial damage

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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