Cessna A150M accident near Red Bluff, California, August 18, 2006
On August 18, 2006 at about 11:42 pm local time, a Cessna A150M, registered CGOBC, was substantially damaged in an accident near Red Bluff, California (Red Bluff Municipal Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's improper mixture leaning technique, which lead to thermal damage and seizure of the exhaust valves.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 18, 2006 · about 11:42 pm local time
- Place
- Red Bluff, California · Red Bluff Municipal Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna A150M · all A150Ms on the register
- Registration
- CGOBC · no longer on the register · serial A150-0659
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airplane experienced a loss of engine power after takeoff, made a forced landing, touched down on uneven terrain, and came to rest inverted. The pilot was on the fourth leg of a cross-country flight when the engine lost power on the initial climb-out about 200 feet agl. Investigators inspected the engine and found the exhaust valves for two of the cylinders stuck in the open position, with dark combustion deposits in the combustion chambers. Both of the exhaust valves exhibited purple discoloration consistent with thermal overheating damage. All four cylinders exhibited pink discoloration of the head and cooling fins in the vicinity of the exhaust ports, which is consistent with thermal overheating. The pilot reported that the engine had been running rough during the approach phase of the flight prior to the accident. The pilot flew the airplane a total distance of approximately 567 nm on the day of the accident. The previous 19.8 hours of the airplane were flown exclusively by the accident pilot. Just prior to the accident, the engine had undergone a 50-hour inspection, and had had a major overhaul 185 hours ago.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: foreign licence, private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 117 hours in all; 41 in this make and model; 25 in the last 90 days; 13 in the last 30 days; 60 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 7,352.8 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, November 1, 2005; 46.5 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,600 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Teledyne Continental O-200-A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: RBL Red Bluff CA at 11:42 pm
- Destination: SJC San Jose CA
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 15, 5,700 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 150° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 95°F (35°C), dew point 39°F (4°C)
- Altimeter: 29.87 inHg
- Observation at 11:54 pm from RBL
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.