Cessna 150M accident near Lancaster, California, April 20, 1986
On April 20, 1986 at about 11:44 pm local time, a Cessna 150M, registered N66459, was substantially damaged in an accident near Lancaster, California (Fox Airfield). 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
- April 20, 1986 · about 11:44 pm local time
- Place
- Lancaster, California · Fox Airfield · 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
- N66459 · registry record · serial 15076063
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT REPORTED THAT HE INTENDED TO FLY TO LANCASTER TO REFUEL. AFTER BEING AIRBORNE FOR ABOUT 44 MINUTES & WHILE ENTERING THE TRAFFIC PATTERN, THE ACFT'S ENGINE EXHAUSTED ITS USABLE FUEL. THE PLT ATTEMPTED TO GLIDE TO THE RWY, BUT HAD INSUFFICIENT ALTITUDE. THE ACFT TOUCHED DOWN IN A DIRT AREA ADJACENT TO THE RWY, & DURING ROLLOUT IT COLLIDED WITH AN EMBANKMENT & NOSED OVER. THE PASSENGER STATED THAT WHEN ENGINE POWER WAS LOST ONE FUEL GAGE REGISTERED 1/4 FULL, & THE OTHER GAGE REGISTERED SLIGHTLY LESS.
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: 122 hours in all; 80 in this make and model; 11 in the last 90 days; 5 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,053 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, November 1, 1985; 95 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,600 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-200-A (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Patroline, INC.
The flight
- Departed from: Barstow CA at 11:00 pm
- Destination: WJF Lancaster CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 24, 5,001 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 080° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 75 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 28°F (-2°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 11:49 pm from WJF
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.