Cessna 150M accident near Fullerton, California, April 2, 1985
On April 2, 1985 at about 11:28 pm local time, a Cessna 150M, registered N8190U, was substantially damaged in an accident near Fullerton, California (Fullerton 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
- April 2, 1985 · about 11:28 pm local time
- Place
- Fullerton, California · Fullerton
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 150M · all 150Ms on the register
- Registration
- N8190U · no longer on the register · serial 15077907
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
GND WITNESS & THE STUDENT PLT RPTD UPON TOUCHDOWN THE ACFT BEGAN TO BOUNCE. AFTER SEVERAL BOUNCES THE PLT BEGAN TO GO-AROUND UPON REACHING MIDFIELD. AFTER LIFT OFF THE ACFT BEGAN TO SINK AND COLLIDED WITH THE ARPT BOUNDARY FENCE. WHEN EXECUTING THE GO-AROUND THE PLT APPLIED FULL THROTTLE WITHOUT CLOSING THE CARB HEAT & IMMEDIATELY RAISED THE FLAPS. FULL THROTTLE WITH CARB HEAT ON WOULD SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCE THE ENGINE POWER & RAISING THE FLAPS WOULD CAUSE THE ACFT TO DVLP A HIGH SINK RATE UNDER THESE CONDITIONS. THE PLT RPTD SHE HAD EXPERIENCED BOUNCED LNDGS & HAD PERFORMED GO-AROUNDS DURING HER TRAINING, BUT THAT DURING THOSE TIMES SHE WAS DIRECTED BY THE INSTRUCTOR IN THE RECOVERY PROCESS AND SHE HAD NEVER RECEIVED FORMAL INSTRUCTION IN THE RECOVERY PROCESS. THE PLT'S FLIGHT RECORD DISCLOSED NO EVIDENCE THAT THE PLT RECEIVED ANY INSTRUCTION IN THESE AREAS. THE PLT'S LOGBOOK DISCLOSED 3 ENTRIES WHERE THE PLT RECEIVED TRAINING IN GO-AROUND MANEUVERS.
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: 324 hours in all; 324 in this make and model; 300 in the last 90 days; 84 in the last 30 days; 57 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 34,862 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, March 27, 1985; 195 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,600 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-200-A (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Aviation Facilities, INC.
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 24, 3,121 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 220° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 40 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 90°F (32°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 3:30 pm from FUL
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.