Mooney M-18C accident near Lakeport, California, May 26, 1986
On May 26, 1986 at about 7:15 pm local time, a Mooney M-18C, registered N4146, was substantially damaged in an accident near Lakeport, California (Lampson airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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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 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 26, 1986 · about 7:15 pm local time
- Place
- Lakeport, California · Lampson · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Mooney M-18C · all M-18Cs on the register
- Registration
- N4146 · no longer on the register · serial 312
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT INDICATED THAT THERE WAS A GUSTY LEFT CROSSWIND PRESENT DURING LANDING. THE ACFT DRIFTED RIGHT OFF THE 40 FT WIDE ASPHALT RWY AND COLLIDED WITH A SMALL DITCH AND DIRT BANK. THE ACFT THEN NOSED OVER INTO THE ARPT DRAINAGE DITCH.
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: 159 hours in all; 4 in this make and model; 49 in the last 90 days; 24 in the last 30 days; 59 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,511 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 23, 1986; 6 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 850 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental C-65-8 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: AUN Auburn CA at 6:05 pm
- Destination: 102 Lakeport CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 28, 3,450 ft by 40 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 240° at 12 knots, gusting 18
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number LAX86LA234.