Cessna 150M accident near Palo Alto, California, August 7, 1983
On August 7, 1983 at about 4:14 pm local time, a Cessna 150M, registered N714QA, was substantially damaged in an accident near Palo Alto, California (Palo Alto 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
- August 7, 1983 · about 4:14 pm local time
- Place
- Palo Alto, California · Palo Alto · 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
- N714QA · no longer on the register · serial 15079340
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT NOSED OVER IN A MARSH DURING A FORCED LANDING AFTER AN ENGINE FAILURE. THIS WAS A SOLO INSTRUCTIONAL FLT. THE PLT SAID HE WAS DESCENDING FOR A LANDING AT PALO ALTO WHEN THE ENGINE BEGAN TO 'LOSE POWER AND RUN ROUGH.' CARBURETOR HEAT DID NOT WORK AND WHEN THROTTLE WAS ADDED THE VIBRATION INCREASED. A FORCED LANDING WAS MADE NORTH OF THE ARPT. A POST ACCIDENT TEAR DOWN OF THE ENGINE REVEALED A FAILURE OF THE #1 CONNECTING ROD END CAP. THIS AND PARTS OF THE PISTON RING SECTIONS AND A CONNECTING ROD BEARING WERE FOUND IN THE OIL SUMP. #2 CYLINDER WAS FOUND BATTERED AND DENTED. #3 AND #4 CYLINDERS WERE NORMAL.
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: 39 hours in all; 39 in this make and model; 36 in the last 90 days; 14 in the last 30 days; 4 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,608 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 1, 1983; 358 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,600 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-200-A48 (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Stanford Flying Club
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 30, 2,500 ft by 65 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 360° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 10,000 ft
- Temperature: 77°F (25°C), dew point 63°F (17°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 3:45 pm from PAO, 6 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.