Cessna 150H accident near Sylmar, California, March 31, 1985
On March 31, 1985 at about 1:40 am local time, a Cessna 150H, registered N23045, was substantially damaged in an accident near Sylmar, California. 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
- March 31, 1985 · about 1:40 am local time
- Place
- Sylmar, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 150H · all 150Hs on the register
- Registration
- N23045 · no longer on the register · serial 15068696
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT ENG QUIT DURING A RETURN FROM A X-COUNTRY FLT. THE PLT STATED THAT NEARING THE END OF HIS FLT THE ACFT ENCOUNTERED TURBULENCE OVER THE MTS AND HE CLIMBED TO 7500 FT IN SEARCH OF SMOOTHER AIR. SHORTLY AFTERWARDS HE STARTED A SLOW DESCENT FROM 7500 FT AND AT APRX 4000 FT MSL THE ENG QQUIT. ATTEMPTS TO RESTART WERE UNSUCCESSFUL. THE CREW THAT RECOVERED THE ACFT SAID THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE OF FUEL IN THE TANKS. THE PLT STATED IN INTERVIEW THAT HE HAD NOT REFUELED AT EVERY EN ROUTE STOP AS INSTRUCTED BY THE CFI BEFORE THE FLT. THE ACFT WAS FORCED TO LAND ON A FREEWAY WHERE A COLLISION WITH WIRES, LIGHTS AND POLES OCCURRED.
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: 78 hours in all; 78 in this make and model; 9 in the last 90 days; 36 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,000 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 8, 1985; 20 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: SMA Santa Maria CA
- Destination: WHP Pacoima CA
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 150° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 66°F (19°C), dew point 30°F (-1°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
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.