Cessna 150L accident near Benson, Arizona, May 28, 1984
On May 28, 1984 at about 11:44 pm local time, a Cessna 150L, registered N242EZ, was substantially damaged in an accident near Benson, Arizona (Chochise County airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. 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 28, 1984 · about 11:44 pm local time
- Place
- Benson, Arizona · Chochise County · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 150L · all 150Ls on the register
- Registration
- N242EZ · no longer on the register · serial 15075566
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
STUDENT PILOT WAS ON A CROSSCOUNTRY WHEN SHE BECAME LOST. EFFORTS WERE MADE TO ESTABLISH HER POSITION BY CONTACTING AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL ON THE EMERGENCY RADIO FREQUENCY. BY THE TIME HER POSITION WAS ESTABLISHED THE AIRCRAFT WAS ABOUT OUT OF FUEL. THE PILOT MADE A FORCED LANDING ON ROLLING TERRAIN AND COLLIDED WITH SEVERAL OBSTRUCTIONS.
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: 52 hours in all; 46 in this make and model; 37 in the last 90 days; 26 in the last 30 days; 13 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,645 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, May 19, 1984; 23 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: YUM Yuma AZ at 7:19 pm
- Destination: TUS Tucson AZ
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 030° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 8,000 ft
- Temperature: 106°F (41°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 11:44 pm from TUS, 33 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.