Cessna 150H accident near Tucson, Arizona, March 25, 1986
On March 25, 1986 at about 2:30 pm local time, a Cessna 150H, registered N22613, was substantially damaged in an accident near Tucson, Arizona (Ryan Field). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person 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
- March 25, 1986 · about 2:30 pm local time
- Place
- Tucson, Arizona · Ryan Field · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 150H · all 150Hs on the register
- Registration
- N22613 · no longer on the register · serial 15068403
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
A CESSNA 150 COLLIDED WITH TERRAIN DURING A TAKEOFF FROM A ROAD. THE STUDENT PLT INDICATED HE WAS PRACTICING AERIAL MANEUVERS IN THE TRAINING AREA WHEN THE ENGINE QUIT. HE SUCCESSFULLY ACCOMPLISHED A POWER OFF LANDING TO AN ASPHALT ROAD. A CERTIFIED MECHANIC WAS DISPATCHED. HE RAN THE ENGINE TWICE. THE ENGINE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. THE MECHANIC RELEASED THE AFCT FOR FLT. HE ALSO INDICATED THAT HE DID NOT KNOW THE PLT WAS A STUDENT PLT UNTIL AFTER THE ACCIDENT. THE STUDENT PLT ATTEMPTED THE TAKEOFF. DURING TAKEOFF ROLL THE AFCT HIT A DIP AND BECAME AIRBORNE PREMATURELY. THE AFCT STALLED AND THE RIGHT WING HIT SAGE BRUSH. THE AFCT VEERED 90 DEG TO THE RIGHT AND HIT A BERM.
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: 43 hours in all; 43 in this make and model; 10 in the last 90 days; 5 in the last 30 days; 10 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,766 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, November 1, 1985; 55 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,600 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-200A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: RYN Tucson AZ at 4:37 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 2:47 pm from TUS, 22 miles away
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.