Cessna 150M accident near Colusa, California, June 13, 1985
On June 13, 1985 at about 7:25 am local time, a Cessna 150M, registered N704FU, was substantially damaged in an accident near Colusa, California (Colusa County airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were 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 November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 13, 1985 · about 7:25 am local time · cases in 1985
- Place
- Colusa, California · Colusa County · cases near this airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 150M · all 150Ms on the register
- Registration
- N704FU · registry record · serial 15078583
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT PREFLIGHTED THE ACFT AT NIGHT WITH A FLASHLIGHT AND NOTED 12-15 GALS OF FUEL IN THE TANKS. UPON LEVEL OFF AT 5500 FT AGL HE NOTED A SLIGHT LACK OF ENGINE POWER. HE ALSO NOTED THAT ONE FUEL TANK WAS EMPTY AND THE OTHER TANK READ 1/4 FULL. BECAUSE OF THESE FACTORS HE DECIDED TO DIVERT TO AN ARPT HE HAD IN SIGHT. DURING THE DESCENT TO THAT ARPT, THE ENG QUIT RUNNING. THE PLT THEN PERFORMED A FORCED LANDING IN TREES. THE ACFT CAME TO REST UPRIGHT IN A DRAINAGE DITCH APRX 50 YARDS FROM THE ARPT RWY. AN EXAMINATION OF THE ACFT REVEALED THE FUEL TANKS WERE EMPTY.
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: 170 hours in all; 64 in this make and model; 6 in the last 90 days; 141 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,892 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, August 20, 1985; 12 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: 069 Petaluma CA at 6:15 am
- Destination: 037 Orland CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 13, 3,000 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night, bright
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 86°F (30°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N704FU on the register today · the tail number may have moved to another aircraft since
- Cessna 150 7,992 registered today · the model family and its accident history
- Cessna 72,677 aircraft on the register
- Engine: Continental O-200-A 297 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Accidents and incidents in California 9,080 since 1982 · 1,096 in the last ten years
- California 28,112 aircraft registered
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/LAX85LA272.json.
The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.
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 does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.