Cessna 150L accident near Cottonwood, Arizona, January 18, 1986
On January 18, 1986 at about 7:15 pm local time, a Cessna 150L, registered N21995, was substantially damaged in an accident near Cottonwood, Arizona. It was a ferry flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. 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 18, 1986 · about 7:15 pm local time
- Place
- Cottonwood, Arizona · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 150L · all 150Ls on the register
- Registration
- N21995 · no longer on the register · serial 15074598
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Ferry flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT HAD NOT BEEN FLOWN FOR ABOUT 4 YRS. THE PLT INTENDED TO FLY IT TO CHANDLER, AZ, FOR AN ANNUAL INSPN. THE PAX STATED THE PLT HAD PREVIOUSLY MADE A TEST FLT, BUT HAD A PROBLEM STARTING THE ENG. RPRTDLY, THE PLT 'CLEANED THE FUEL SYSTEM AND FILLED THE TANKS' BEFORE TAKING OFF ON THE ACDNT FLT. DRG TAKEOFF, THE ENG BEGAN TO LOSE POWER AT ABOUT 150 FT AGL. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE ACFT ENTERED A RIGHT TURN & DSCNDD INTO TREES & CRASHED. THE PAX STATED THAT THE ENG DID NOT STOP RUNNING. NO REASON WAS FOUND FOR THE PRESUMED PARTIAL LOSS OF POWER. NO RECORD WAS FOUND OF THE PLT EVER HAVING HELD AN FAA PLT CERTIFICATE. AN NTSB FORM 6120.1 (PILOT/OPERATOR AIRCRAFT ACCIDENT REPORT) WAS MAILED TO THE PLT, BUT IT WAS RETURNED MARKED 'MOVED - NO FORWARDING ADDRESS.'
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
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 1,600 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-200-A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: P10 Chandler AZ
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 030° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 65 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 25,000 ft
- Temperature: 57°F (14°C), dew point 34°F (1°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 7:49 pm from PRC, 21 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.