Cessna 150M accident near Oxnard, California, March 23, 1982
On March 23, 1982 at about 2:55 am local time, a Cessna 150M, registered N63331, was destroyed in an accident near Oxnard, California (Ventura County Airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. 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
- March 23, 1982 · about 2:55 am local time
- Place
- Oxnard, California · Ventura County Airport
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 150M · all 150Ms on the register
- Registration
- N63331 · no longer on the register · serial 15077240
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE STUDENT PILOT DEPARTED HAWTHORNE, CA AT APPROXIMATELY 1000 PST ON A SOLO CROSS-COUNTRY FLIGHT TO PORTERVILLE, CA AND RETURN. DURING THE FLIGHT THE PILOT BECAME LOST AND LANDED AT VISALIA, CA. WHILE THERE HE OBTAINED FUEL AND DIRECTIONS TO PORTERVILLE AND DEPARTED. HE ARRIVED AT PORTERVILLE AT APPROXIMATELY 1420 PST, MET A FRIEND ON A SIMILAR FLIGHT AND BOTH AIRCRAFT DEPARTED AT 1455 PST. THEY ARRIVED AT LOMPOC, CA AT 1715 PST WHERE THE FIRST PILOT DECIDED TO FLY BACK TO SANTA MARIA, CA TO PURCHASE FUEL. AFTER LANDING AND PURCHASING FUEL THE AIRCRAFT DEPARTED ON A VFR FLIGHT PLAN AT APPROXIMATELY 1720 PST WITH HAWTHORNE, CA AS THE DESTINATION. AT 1855 PST, THE AIRCRAFT CRASHED APPROACHING THE THRESHOLD OF RUNWAY 07 AT THE VENTURA COUNTY AIRPORT, OXNARD, CA. THE TOXICOLOGY REPORT ON THE PILOT SHOWED A 48% CARBON MONOXIDE SATURATION IN HIS BLOOD CONTAINING 9.4% HEMOGLOBIN. THE EXHAUST SYSTEM WAS INSPECTED AND THE LEFT HAND MUFFLER SHOWED SIGNS OF INTERNAL LEAKAGE INTO THE CABIN HEATER SYSTEM.
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: student
- Flight time: 62 hours in all; 62 in this make and model; 8 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,520 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 33 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,600 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-200 (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Rose Aviation Incorporated
The flight
- Departed from: SMX Santa Maria CA at 7:54 pm
- Destination: HHZ Hawthorne CA
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 7, 5,950 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 280° at 2 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; not recorded
- Temperature: 126°F (52°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
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.