Cessna 150L accident near Pacoima, California, October 18, 1986
On October 18, 1986 at about 9:30 pm local time, a Cessna 150L, registered N18737, was substantially damaged in an accident near Pacoima, California (Whiteman airport). It was a personal 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
- October 18, 1986 · about 9:30 pm local time
- Place
- Pacoima, California · Whiteman · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 150L · all 150Ls on the register
- Registration
- N18737 · registry record · serial 15074075
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT REFUELED THE ACFT, BUT WAS UNABLE TO RESTART THE ENG BY USING THE BATTERY. HE HAND PROPPED THE ENG WHICH STARTED IMMEDIATELY. THE ACFT BEGAN TO MOVE UNATTENDED & THE PLT CLUNG TO THE LEFT WING STRUT, BUT RELINQUISHED HIS GRIP AFTER THE ACFT MOVED APRX 20 FT. THE ACFT CONTINUED & STRUCK 2 OTHER SINGLE ENG ACFT BEFORE STOPPING. A WITNESS SHUT DOWN THE ENG BY TURNING OFF THE MAGNETOS. POLICE, PARAMEDICS & WITNESSES NOTED A STRONG ODOR OF ALCOHOL ON THE PLT'S BREATH. A POLICE OFFICER ALSO NOTED THAT THE PLT'S SPEECH WAS 'THICK/SLURRED.' THE INJURED PLT WAS TAKEN TO A MEDICAL CENTER, BUT HE LEFT BEFORE BEING CHECKED FOR ALCOHOL CONSUMPTION. A WITNESS STATED THAT HE & THE PLT WERE IN A BAR PRIOR TO THE ATTEMPTED FLT & THAT THE PLT HAD OFFERED TO FLY HIM TO BAKERSFIELD, CA. THE PLT'S LAST MEDICAL CERTIFICATE WAS DATED 12/28/82; AT THAT TIME, HE RPRTD HE HAD ACCUMULATED 1000 HRS OF FLT TIME.
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: 1,000 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (expired)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 1,600 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-200-A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: WHP at 9:30 pm
- Destination: L45 Bakersfield CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 250° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 25 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 3,000 ft
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 50°F (10°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 9:47 pm from VNY, 5 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.