Cessna 150F accident near Chico, California, May 13, 1983
On May 13, 1983, a Cessna 150F, registered N8674S, was substantially damaged in an accident near Chico, California (Ranchaero airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was 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
- May 13, 1983
- Place
- Chico, California · Ranchaero · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 150F · all 150Fs on the register
- Registration
- N8674S · no longer on the register · serial 15061974
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE STUDENT PLT WAS PRACTICING TAKEOFFS & LANDING ON A 2280 FT RWY IN CALM WIND CONDITIONS. HE REPORTED THAT WHILE ON A FINAL APCH TO LAND, THE ACFT WAS HIGH & WAS APRX 10 MPH TOO FAST. BEFORE TOUCHING DOWN & WITH OVER HALF OF THE RWY BEHIND, THE STUDENT ELECTED TO GO-AROUND, HE REPORTED THAT HE PUSHED THE THROTTLE IN TO OBTAIN FULL POWER, INCREASED THE ANGLE OF ATTACK & ATTEMPTED TO TURN OFF THE CARBURETOR HEAT. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE ACFT STALLED WHILE IT WAS APRX 20 ABOVE TREES. IT CAME TO REST IN A STEEP NOSE DOWN ATTITUDE WHILE STILL PARTIALLY SUSPENDED BY THE LIMBS OF AN ALMOND TREE. THE UNINJURED PLT OPENED THE DOOR, JUMPED TO THE GROUND & WALKED AWAY. THE CARBURETOR HEAT WAS FOUND IN THE FULL 'ON' POSITION.
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
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 42 hours in all; 42 in this make and model; 10 in the last 90 days; 11 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,796 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, May 4, 1983; 26 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,600 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-200A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 33, 2,280 ft by 30 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Temperature: 75°F (24°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.