Cessna 150M accident near Lake Isabella, California, July 17, 1982
On July 17, 1982 at about 4:30 pm local time, a Cessna 150M, registered N704GL, was substantially damaged in an accident near Lake Isabella, California. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 17, 1982 · about 4:30 pm local time
- Place
- Lake Isabella, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 150M · all 150Ms on the register
- Registration
- N704GL · no longer on the register · serial 15078599
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
AFTER TAKEOFF, THE ACFT WAS FLOWN APRX 5 MI SOUTH OF THE ARPT & WAS AT ABOUT 1000 FT ABOVE A LAKE WHEN THE ENG BEGAN VIBRATING VIOLENTLY & LOSING POWER. THE PLT TURNED TOWARD THE SHORE & TRIED VARIOUS MIXTURE SETTINGS IN AN ATTEMPT TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. SUBSEQUENTLY, DURING A FORCED LANDING, THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH A FENCE. AN EXAM OF THE ENG REVEALED THAT THE STARTER GEAR WAS DETACHED FROM THE STARTER SHAFT. METAL FRAGMENTS WERE FOUND IN NUMEROUS AREAS OF THE ENG, INCLUDING THE OIL SCREEN, WHICH HAD COLLAPSED. THE OIL PUMP GEAR CAVITIES WERE SCORED, AS WELL AS THE CRANKSHAFT MAIN JOURNAL BEARINGS, WHICH EXHIBITED EXTENSIVE COPPER LAYER EXPOSURE. THE FRONT JOURNAL BEARINGS WERE ALSO EMBEDDED WITH ALUMINUM. THE #1 CONNECTING ROD HAD SEPARATED FROM ITS CRANKPIN. THE CRANKPIN WAS DISCOLORED & HAD FRAGMENTS OF STEEL WELDED TO THE JOURNAL. BOTH CONNECTING ROD CAP BOLTS OF THE FAILED ROD WERE NECKED DOWN AT THE FRACTURE FACES.
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: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 120 hours in all; 30 in this make and model; 4 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,714 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 32 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,600 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-200-A (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Rialto Avn. INC.
The flight
- Departed from: L05 Kernville CA at 9:25 am
- Destination: L67 Rialto CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 315° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; clear
- Temperature: 162°F (72°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.