Cessna 150H accident near Phoenix, Arizona, July 7, 1986
On July 7, 1986 at about 2:25 pm local time, a Cessna 150H, registered N23222, was destroyed in an accident near Phoenix, Arizona (Deer Valley airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. 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
- July 7, 1986 · about 2:25 pm local time
- Place
- Phoenix, Arizona · Deer Valley · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 150H · all 150Hs on the register
- Registration
- N23222 · no longer on the register · serial 15068804
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT PERFORMED 1 NORMAL TOUCH & GO OPERATION, & TOUCHED DOWN NORMALLY ON THE SECOND PLANED TOUCH & GO WHICH WAS TO TERMINATE WITH A RIGHT DEP OUT OF THE PATTERN. AFTER TOUCHDOWN, WITNESSES OBSERVED THE ACFT ROLL STRAIGHT ALONG THE RWY CENTERLINE FOR ABOUT 800 FT THEN BEGIN A GRADUAL DIVERGENCE FROM THE RWY WHICH SEEMED TO STABILIZE AT ABOUT A 30 DEGREE ANGLE. AFTER DEPARTING THE RWY EDGE, THE ACFT ROLLED AT A CONSTANT RATE OF SPEED FOR AN ADDITIONAL 900 FT THROUGH THE DIRT AREA BETWEEN THE RWY & ADJACENT TAXIWAY BEFORE COLLIDING WITH A CONCRETE DRAINAGE ABUTMENT. THE WITNESSES SAW THE WINGS OF THE ACFT ROCK BACK & FOURTH DURING THE GND ROLL THROUGH THE DIRT. EXAMINATION OF THE ACFT TRACKS CONFIRMED THAT THE ACFT DID OSCILLATE ABOUT THE ROLL AXIS & SHIFT WEIGHT FROM SIDE OT SIDE DURING THE GND ROLL. THE PLT HAD ACCRUED ONLY 8 DUAL HOURS TO THE FIRST UNSUPERVISED SOLO. THE ACCIDENT FLIGHT WAS THE SECOND SOLO FLIGHT WITHOUT SUPERVISION. NO PREIMPACT FAILURES OR MALFUNCTIONS WERE FOUND.
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: 25 hours in all; 12 in this make and model; 12 in the last 90 days; 12 in the last 30 days; 2 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,913 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 16, 1986; 15 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,600 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-200A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 25L, 5,300 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 030° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 12,000 ft; clear
- Temperature: 108°F (42°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 2:25 pm from DVT
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.