Cessna 150M accident near Anacapa Island, California, October 20, 1983
On October 20, 1983 at about 7:00 pm local time, a Cessna 150M, registered N714PR, was destroyed in an accident near Anacapa Island, California. It was a personal 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
- October 20, 1983 · about 7:00 pm local time
- Place
- Anacapa Island, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 150M · all 150Ms on the register
- Registration
- N714PR · no longer on the register · serial 15079332
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING FLT, THE PLT ESTABLISHED RADIO CONTACT WITH A FISHING BOAT & MADE A LOW PASS NEAR THE BOAT AT AN ESTIMATED ALTITUDE OF 200 FT. THE CAPTAIN OF THE BOAT SAID HE TOLD THE PLT NOT TO FLY LIKE THAT AROUND HIS BOAT AGAIN. HOWEVER, THE PLT MADE ANOTHER LOW PASS AT AN APPARENT SLOWER AIRSPEED. AS THE ACFT PASSED THE BOAT'S PORT SIDE, IT ENTERED A STEEP LEFT BANK & BEGAN TO DESCEND. SHORTLY AFTER THAT, THE ACFT IMPACTED THE WATER WITH ITS LEFT WING & ENG, SIMULTANEOUSLY. AFTER CRASHING, THE ACFT & PLT SANK & WERE NOT RECOVERED. ACCORDING TO WITNESSES, THE ENG SOUNDED NORMAL UNTIL IMPACT.
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; single-engine sea
- Flight time: 1,133 hours in all; 8 in this make and model; 2 in the last 90 days; 2 in the last 30 days; 1,030 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,703 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 1, 1983; 3 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: TOA Torrance CA at 6:25 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 120° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 1,000 ft
- Temperature: 63°F (17°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.