Cessna 150 accident near Oracle, Arizona, June 9, 1985
On June 9, 1985 at about 7:30 pm local time, a Cessna 150, registered N8489U, was substantially damaged in an accident near Oracle, Arizona. It was a personal 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
- June 9, 1985 · about 7:30 pm local time
- Place
- Oracle, Arizona · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 150 · all 150s on the register
- Registration
- N8489U · no longer on the register · serial 15077939
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING A LCL PLEASURE FLT THE PLT STATED THAT THE ACFT'S ENG BEGAN RUNNING ROUGH SO HE MADE A PRECATIONARY LDG ON A DIRT ROAD WHICH WAS AT AN ELEVATION OF 4,000 FT MSL. AFTER INSPECTING THE ACFT & FINDING IT TO BE IN PROPER WORKING ORDER THE PLT DECIDED TO TAKE OFF. THE PLT ESTIMATED THE ROAD'S LENGTH TO BE BETWEEN 700 & 1000 FT, THE WIND FM 270 DEG AT 10 KTS, & THE TEMP AT 90 DEG F. DURING THE DOWNWIND TAKEOFF THE ACFT OVERRAN THE ROAD'S END, COLLIDED WITH TREES & NOSED OVER. THE CALCULATED DENSITY ALT WAS OVER 6,500 FT. ACCORDING TO THE CESSNA 150 OWNER'S MANUAL THE REQUIRED GROUND RUN DISTANCE UNDER THE DESCRIBED CONDITIONS WOULD BE OVER 1180 FT.
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
- Flight time: 171 hours in all; 163 in this make and model; 8 in the last 90 days; 3 in the last 30 days; 120 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,633 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded, May 26, 1985; 95 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,600 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-200 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Oracle AZ at 7:29 pm
- Destination: La Jolla AZ
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 270° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 90°F (32°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.