Cessna 150M accident near Phelan, California, May 29, 1983
On May 29, 1983 at about 4:35 pm local time, a Cessna 150M, registered N3437V, was substantially damaged in an accident near Phelan, California. It was a personal 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 29, 1983 · about 4:35 pm local time
- Place
- Phelan, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 150M · all 150Ms on the register
- Registration
- N3437V · registry record · serial 15076503
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE STUDENT PLT DEPARTED RAMONA, CA ON A FLT TO PALOMAR, CA WHERE HE PLANNED TO REFUEL. HE REPORTED THAT HE MISSED THE 'PALOMAR TURN OFF', AND THEREAFTER, FLEW TO HESPERIA, CA & LANDED. NO FUEL WAS AVAILABLE AT HESPERIA. THE FUEL GAUGES INDICATED THERE STILL WAS FUEL REMAINING, SO HE TOOK OFF FOR THE BARSTOW-DAGGETT ARPT, LOCATED 40 MI NORTHEAST. HOWEVER, AFTER FLYING 14 MI NORTHWEST, HE OBSERVED GEORGE AFB & INCORRECTLY IDENTIFIED IT AS HIS DESTINATION. WHEN HE REALIZED HIS MISTAKE, HE TURNED BACK TOWARD HESPERIA. WHILE ENROUTE, THE ENG LOST POWER FROM FUEL EXHAUSTION. REPORTEDLY, THE FUEL GAUGES WERE STILL INDICATING APRX 1/4 FULL. AN EMERGENCY LANDING WAS MADE IN ROUGH DESERT TERRAIN WHERE THE ACFT WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED. DURING THE LANDING, THE ACFT HIT A JOSHUA TREE & THE NOSE GEAR COLLAPSED.
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: 300 hours in all; 7 in this make and model; 13 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,585 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, April 30, 1983; 21 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: L26 Hesperia CA at 2:20 am
- Destination: APV Apple Valley CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 270° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.