Cessna 150M accident near Ukiah, California, January 8, 1986
On January 8, 1986 at about 3:24 am local time, a Cessna 150M, registered N63660, was substantially damaged in an accident near Ukiah, California. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were seriously injured. 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
- January 8, 1986 · about 3:24 am local time
- Place
- Ukiah, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 150M · all 150Ms on the register
- Registration
- N63660 · no longer on the register · serial 15077461
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT'S ENG LOST PWR DURING A NORMAL DESCENT DURING A NIGHT X-COUNTRY FLT AND THE ACFT CRASHED DURING THE ENSUING FORCED LANDING ATTEMPT. FIRE DEPARTMENT PERSONNEL REPORTED THAT THE RIGHT WING FUEL TANK WAS EMPTY AND THE LEFT WING FUEL TANK CONTAINED ONE INCH OF FUEL. THE FUEL TANKS WERE TOPPED PRIOR TO DEPARTURE AND THE ACFT HAD FLOWN APRX THREE HRS AND FIVE MINUTES WHEN THE ENG QUIT. THE PLT REPORTED HAVING PREVIOUSLY MADE THE SAME FLT WITHOUT HAVING TO REFUEL, HOWEVER, WINDS ALOFT WERE STRONGER DURING THE ACCIDENT FLT THAN ON THE PREVIOUS FLT.
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: 146 hours in all; 53 in this make and model; 70 in the last 90 days; 26 in the last 30 days; 97 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 2, 1985; 44 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: CEC Crescent City CA
- Destination: 102 Lakeport CA
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 150° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 50°F (10°C), dew point 45°F (7°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 1:55 am from UKI, 17 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.