Cessna 150M accident near Selma, California, September 21, 1985
On September 21, 1985 at about 10:00 pm local time, a Cessna 150M, registered N45382, was substantially damaged in an accident near Selma, California (Selma 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 October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 21, 1985 · about 10:00 pm local time
- Place
- Selma, California · Selma · 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
- N45382 · no longer on the register · serial 15076891
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT REPTD THE ACFT EXPERIENCED A TOTAL LOSS OF POWER DURING THE DESCENT TO SELMA ARPT. THE PILOT DID NOT APPLY CARB HEAT BEFORE BEGINING THE DESCENT. DURING THE SUBSEQUENT FORCED LANDING THE ACFT LEFT WING STRUCK A TELEPHONE POLE. THE ENGINE OPERATED NORMALLY DURING THE POST ACCIDENT EXAMINATION. THE ACFT CONTAINED ABOUT 10 GALS OF FUEL. THE TEMP/DEW POINT SPREAD AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT WERE 64 DEG F & 44 DEG F. ACCORDING TO THE CARB ICING CURVE, THE ACFT WAS OPERATING IN THE SERIOUS CARB ICING RANGE AT GLIDE POWER.
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: 324 hours in all; 272 in this make and model; 36 in the last 90 days; 285 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,536 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 2, 1985
- Maximum gross weight: 1,600 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-200-A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: WJF Lancaster CA at 7:45 pm
- Destination: 0Q4 Selma CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 300° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 25,000 ft
- Temperature: 90°F (32°C), dew point 48°F (9°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 9:50 pm from FAT, 13 miles away
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.
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.