Cessna 150F accident near Bermuda Dunes, California, May 26, 1987
On May 26, 1987, a Cessna 150F, registered N8978S, was substantially damaged in an accident near Bermuda Dunes, California (Bermuda Dunes airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were 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 26, 1987
- Place
- Bermuda Dunes, California · Bermuda Dunes · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 150F · all 150Fs on the register
- Registration
- N8978S · no longer on the register · serial 15062278
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE FLT ENCOUNTERED STRONG HEAD WINDS WHILE CRUISING X-COUNTRY AT 6000 FT MSL. THE ENGINE LOST POWER APRX 14 MILES EAST OF THE INTENDED DESTINATION AND DURING DESCENT TOWARD THE DESTINATION THE POWER RETURNED SEVERAL TIMES BUT COULD NOT BE MAINTAINED. THE ACFT WAS LANDED APRX 200 FT SHORT OF THE RWY WITHOUT POWER. POST ACC INSPECTION OF THE ACFT REVEALED APRX 1 GAL OF FUEL IN THE LEFT TANK AND APRX 2 GALS IN THE RT TANK. THERE WERE NO MECHANICAL FAILURES OR MALFUNCTIONS NOTED.
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: 472 hours in all; 193 in this make and model; 7 in the last 90 days; 7 in the last 30 days; 455 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 1,600 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-200A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: P20 Parker AZ at 10:25 pm
- Destination: UDO Bermuda Dunes CA
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 29, 4,030 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 280° at 20 knots, gusting 30
- Visibility: 8 statute miles
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 36°F (2°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 11:50 pm from TRM, 11 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.