Cessna 150E accident near Apple Valley, California, September 11, 1985
On September 11, 1985 at about 3:58 pm local time, a Cessna 150E, registered N3926U, was substantially damaged in an accident near Apple Valley, California (Apple Valley airport). 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
- September 11, 1985 · about 3:58 pm local time
- Place
- Apple Valley, California · Apple Valley · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 150E · all 150Es on the register
- Registration
- N3926U · no longer on the register · serial 15061326
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE PRACTICING STOP AND GO TAKEOFFS AND LANDINGS, THE SOLO STUDENT PLT FLARED TOO HIGH ON THE SECOND LANDING AND LOST DIRECTIONAL CONTROL. THE PLT APPLIED POWER TO NEGOTIATE A GO AROUND. THE NOSE PTICHED UP AND THE ACFT STALLED. THE ACFT CONTACTED THE GND ON ITS MAIN WHEELS AND BOUNCED. THE LEFT WING CONTACTED THE RUNWAY CAUSING THE AIRCRAFT TO EXIT THE RUNWAY ENVIRONMENT. THE ACFT CAME TO REST RIGHT SIDE UP ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE RUNWAY IN THE DIRT. THE WINDS WERE CALM AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. THE STUDENT PLT HAD ACCUMULATED 24.8 TOTAL FLIGHT HOURS IN THE ACCIDENT AIRCRAFT MAKE AND MODEL 1.7 HOURS WERE OBTAINED AS PIC.
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: 248 hours in all; 248 in this make and model; 248 in the last 90 days; 172 in the last 30 days; 17 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,086 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection; 6 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,600 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-200-A (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Midfield Aviation
The flight
- Departed from: APV Apple Valley CA at 8:15 am
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 36, 6,500 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 60 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 75°F (24°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.