Cessna 150 accident near Gasquet, California, May 31, 1986
On May 31, 1986 at about 6:10 pm local time, a Cessna 150, registered N22MS, was substantially damaged in an accident near Gasquet, California (Ward 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).
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
- May 31, 1986 · about 6:10 pm local time
- Place
- Gasquet, California · Ward · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 150 · all 150s on the register
- Registration
- N22MS · registry record · serial 15074565
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT STATED THAT, AS HE ENTERED THE TRAFFIC PATTERN, THE WINDSOCK FOR RUNWAY 24 INDICATED ABOUT FIVE KNOTS OF WIND STRAIGHT DOWN THE RUNWAY. HE FURTHER STATED THAT, AS HE WAS ABOUT TO TOUCH DOWN, A SUDDEN CROSS WIND CAUSED THE AIRCRAFT TO 'NOSE TO THE RIGHT'. THE AIRCRAFT THEN VEERED OFF INTO THE GRASS AND STRUCK TIRES WHICH HAD BEEN INSTALLED TO FORM A CIRCLE AROUND THE WINDSOCK. IT THEN BOUNCED AND CAME DOWN NOSE FIRST, BUCKLING THE NOSE GEAR AND DAMAGING THE PROP AND RIGHT WING.
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: 98 hours in all; 98 in this make and model; 55 in the last 90 days; 30 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,095 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 13, 1986; 48 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,600 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-200-A (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Hupp Aviation
The flight
- Departed from: 105 Montague CA at 5:10 pm
- Destination: 009
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 24, 2,990 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 330° at 6 knots, gusting 15
- Visibility: 6 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.
Other NTSB records under N22MS the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.