Cessna 150L accident near Fresno, California, November 25, 1986
On November 25, 1986 at about 11:06 pm local time, a Cessna 150L, registered N11185, was destroyed in an accident near Fresno, California (Fresno Air Terminal airport). It was an instructional 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
- November 25, 1986 · about 11:06 pm local time
- Place
- Fresno, California · Fresno Air Terminal · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 150L · all 150Ls on the register
- Registration
- N11185 · registry record · serial 15075244
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING A SOLO INSTRUCTIONAL CROSS-COUNTRY FLIGHT THE ENGINE QUIT WHILE ON THE BASE LEG AT THE FRESNO AIRPORT. THE PILOT DID NOT FEEL THAT HE COULD MAKE THE RUNWAY DUE TO AN EXTENDED DOWNWIND AND LOW ALTITUDE. THE PILOT DECIDED TO TRY AND LAND IN A PLOWED FIELD TO HIS RIGHT THEN DECIDED NOT TO BECAUSE OF A FENCE. THE PILOT THEN CHOSE A NEARBY ROAD. THE AIRCRAFT THEN COLLIDED WITH A TELEPHONE POLE. THE AIRCRAFT WAS EXAMINED AND FOUND THAT THE RIGHT FUEL TANK WAS EMPTY AND THE LEFT FUEL TANK HAD APPROXIMATELY 1 GALLON OF FUEL.
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
- Flight time: 45 hours in all; 45 in this make and model; 9 in the last 90 days; 5 in the last 30 days; 14 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 9,298 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, November 18, 1986; 17 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,600 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-200A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: LSN Los Banos CA at 10:40 pm
- Destination: FAT Fresno CA
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 29, 9,222 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 220° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 4 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 59°F (15°C), dew point 48°F (9°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 11:14 pm from FAT, 1 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.