Cessna 150D accident near San Diego, California, July 23, 1986
On July 23, 1986 at about 9:20 pm local time, a Cessna 150D, registered N5917T, was destroyed in an accident near San Diego, California. It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. 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
- July 23, 1986 · about 9:20 pm local time
- Place
- San Diego, California
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 150D · all 150Ds on the register
- Registration
- N5917T · no longer on the register · serial 15060617
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
A CESSNA 150D COLLIDED WITH THE PACIFIC OCEAN WHILE SPOTTING FISH APPROXIMATELY 5 MI FROM THE COAST. THE ACFT OWNER AND OPERATOR INDICATED THAT THE PLT WAS FAA LICENSED AND CURRENT. FAA RECORDS REVEALED THE PLT WAS ISSUED A STUDENT PLT CERTIFICATED ALONG WITH HIS THIRD CLASS MEDICAL ON MAY 8, 1986. THE ACFT WAS SPOTTING FISH FOR A FISHING VESSEL ALSO OWNED BY THE ACFT OPERATOR. THE ACFT NORMALLY CIRCLED THE BOAT AT APPROXIMATELY 800 FT AGL AND REPORTED FISH SIGHTINGS VIA THE RADIO. THE FISHING VESSEL CREWMEMBERS HEARD THE ACFT IMPACT THE WATER APPROXIMATELY 100 FT FROM THE SHIP, BUT DID NOT SEE IT. THE ACFT WAS IN CONTACT WITH THE SHIP VIA RADIO AND THERE WAS NO DISTRESS CALL. A CREWMEMBER STATED THERE DID NOT SEEM TO BE ANY CHANGE IN THE ENGINE NOISE PRIOR TO IMPACT. THE OPERATOR ALSO INDICATED THAT THE ACFT WAS LOST AT SEA. THE ACFT WAS DESTROYED WHEN IT SANK IN APPROXIMATELY 2,600 FEET OF WATER. THE STUDENT PLT IS MISSING AND PRESUMABLY FATALLY INJURED.
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
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 24, 1986
- Maximum gross weight: 1,600 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-200A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SDM San Diego CA at 8:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 280° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 2,000 ft
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 63°F (17°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 9:55 pm from SDM, 25 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.