Cessna 150L accident near Columbia, California, April 15, 2008
On April 15, 2008 at about 11:00 pm local time, a Cessna 150L, registered N1364Q, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff near Columbia, California (Columbia Airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The flight instructor's decision to attempt takeoff with an engine discrepancy and subsequent failure to abort takeoff when the airplane did not attain adequate airspeed during the initial climb, resulting in an aerodynamic stall. Contributing to the accident was the partial loss of engine power.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 15, 2008 · about 11:00 pm local time
- Place
- Columbia, California · Columbia Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 150L · all 150Ls on the register
- Registration
- N1364Q · no longer on the register · serial 15072664
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The flight instructor reported that the student pilot had recently purchased the airplane and that they intended to test fly it within the traffic pattern. Prior to departure, he noted that the wind was about 10-15 knots and favored a 2,600-foot-long turf runway. The instructor stated that he initiated a short field takeoff by holding the brakes, using 10 degrees of flaps, and applying full throttle. He recalled that the engine only produced 2,050 rpm, and that he expected the rpm to increase as he released the brakes. During the takeoff roll, the instructor felt that the tall grass slowed the acceleration of the airplane before it lifted off the ground at 55 miles per hour. He lowered the nose to gain airspeed in ground effect, but the airplane was not accelerating. Due to upward sloping terrain with trees and power lines in the flight path of the airplane, he turned left to avoid the obstacles. During the turn, the angle of bank increased due to a wind gust and the airplane stalled, entered a spin to the left, and impacted the ground in a nose low attitude. Examination of the airframe revealed no anomalies. Examination of the engine revealed that the number two cylinder top and bottom spark plugs were fouled with carbon deposits. These spark plugs would not have fired, resulting in a loss of power from the number two cylinder. The aircraft owner's manual states that during the initial takeoff phase the pilot should verify full throttle operation and that the engine should run smoothly and turn approximately 2,500 to 2,600 rpm with carburetor heat off.
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
What happened, in order
- Powerplant sys/comp malf/fail during takeoff defining event
- Loss of engine power (partial) during takeoff
- Aerodynamic stall/spin during initial climb
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during uncontrolled descent
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Decision making/judgment › Instructor/check pilot
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Lack of action › Instructor/check pilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Airspeed › Not attained/maintained
- factor Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › (general) › (general) › Malfunction
Flight instructor
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,070 hours in all; 120 in this make and model; 100 in the last 90 days; 35 in the last 30 days; 985 as pilot in command; 707 on instruments
- Last flight review: June 27, 2007
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
Dual student
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,008 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 14, 2007; 1 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,600 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-200-A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: O22 Columbia CA at 11:00 pm
- Destination: O22
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 29, 2,600 ft by 100 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 300° at 10 knots, gusting 15
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | 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.