Cessna 150M accident near Orinda, California, July 21, 1982
On July 21, 1982 at about 1:45 am local time, a Cessna 150M, registered N8288U, was substantially damaged in an accident near Orinda, California. 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 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 21, 1982 · about 1:45 am local time
- Place
- Orinda, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 150M · all 150Ms on the register
- Registration
- N8288U · no longer on the register · serial 15077912
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE ENROUTE TO OAKLAND THE PLT REPORTED EXPERIENCING A LOSS OF CLIMBING POWER AT 2,000 FT NEAR THE SAN PABLO RESERVOIR. HE APPLIED CARB HEAT, CHECKED MIXTURE SETTING & PRIMER. HE THEN EXTENDED FULL FLAPS & RETARDED THE THROTTLE JUST PRIOR TO LANDING IN THE RESERVOIR. WITNESSES REPORTED THAT APPROXIMATELY 1 HR BEFORE THE ACCIDENT, THE SAME ACFT WAS OBSERVED GLIDING TOWARDS THE EAST END OF THE SHORE AT ABOUT 400 TO 600 FT ABOVE THE WATER. AS THE ACFT GLIDED OVER TREES AT THE EAST END POWER WAS APPLIED & THE ACFT BEGAN A SHALLOW CLIMB TOWARDS RICHMOND, CA. AT APPROXIMATELY 1830 WITNESSES ONCE AGAIN OBSERVED THE ACFT GLIDING TOWARD THE EAST END OF THE RESERVOIR AT AN ALTITUDE OF APPROXIMATELY 200 FT, ENTER A SHARP 180 DEGREE RIGHT TURN AND LAND IN THE RESERVOIR. EXAMINATION OF THE AIRCRAFT'S ENGINE REVEALED NO PREIMPACT MALFUNCTION OR FAILURE.
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: 243 hours in all; 137 in this make and model; 3 in the last 90 days; 167 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,252 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 52 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,600 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-200-A (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Flightways Academy, INC.
The flight
- Departed from: CCR Concord CA at 6:30 pm
- Destination: OAK Oakland CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 280° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; clear
- Temperature: 149°F (65°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 5:55 pm from OAK, 11 miles away
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.