Cessna 150G accident near Columbia, California, July 22, 1985
On July 22, 1985 at about 4:15 am local time, a Cessna 150G, registered N2209J, was destroyed in an accident near Columbia, California (Columbia airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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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 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 22, 1985 · about 4:15 am local time
- Place
- Columbia, California · Columbia · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 150G · all 150Gs on the register
- Registration
- N2209J · registry record · serial 65409
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
ON JULY 21, 1985 AT ABOUT 2115 HOURS P.D.T., CESSNA 150, N2209J, REGISTERED TO LAURENCE P. THOMPSON, AUBURN, CALIFORNIA,AND OPERATED BY SUNSHINE FLYERS, INC., AUBURN, CALIFORNIA, CRASHED AFTER COLLIDING WITH SOME TREES ABOUT 1 MILE NORTH NORTHWEST OF COLUMBIA AIRPORT (022), COLUMBIA, CALIFORNIA. THE AIRCRAFT DEPARTED RUNWAY 35 ON A VISUAL FLIGHT RULES PERSONAL FLIGHT TO AUBURN MUNICIPAL AIRPORT (AUN), AUBURN, CALIFORNIA. NO FLIGHT PLAN WAS FILED; NOR WAS ONE REQUIRED. THE AIRCRAFT WAS DESTROYED BY IMPACT/POST-IMPACT FIRE. THE TOPS OF TWO TREES SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE. THE CERTIFICATED COMMERCIAL PILOT/FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR AND THE SOLE PASSENGER ABOARD THE ABOARD THE AIRCRAFT SUSTAINED FATAL INJURIES. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. THE FLIGHT HAD ORIGINATED AT 022 AT ABOUT 2114 HOURS.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 263 in this make and model; 52 in the last 90 days; 13 in the last 30 days; 446 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,727 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 23, 1985; 1 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,600 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-200 SERIES (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: 022 Columbia CA at 4:14 am
- Destination: AUN Auburn CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 35, 4,277 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Observation at 9:15 pm
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number LAX85FA328.