Cessna 150M accident near Cameron Park, California, July 9, 1987
On July 9, 1987 at about 2:31 am local time, a Cessna 150M, registered N3811V, was substantially damaged in an accident near Cameron Park, California (Cameron Park 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
- July 9, 1987 · about 2:31 am local time
- Place
- Cameron Park, California · Cameron Park · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 150M · all 150Ms on the register
- Registration
- N3811V · registry record · serial 15076630
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING A PLEASURE FLT, THE NON CERTIFICATED PLT LANDED THE ACFT SHORT OF THE RWY WHEN HE MISTOOK A ROAD FOR THE RWY. THE PLT STATED THAT THE SUN WAS IN HIS EYES AND BY THE TIME HE REALIZED THAT HE WAS NOT LANDING ON THE RWY THE ACFT WAS TOO LOW AND SLOW TO GO AROUND. THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH A POLE DURING THE LANDING ROLL, RAN INTO A DITCH AND NOSED OVER. THE PLT HAD RECENTLY PURCHASED THE ACFT AND HAD LOGGED 150 HRS IN THIS TYPE OF ACFT SEVERAL YEARS AGO. THE PLTS STUDENT PLT CERTIFICATE AND MEDICAL HAD EXPIRED. THERE WERE NO MECHANICAL FAILURES OR MALFUNCTIONS REPORTED AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT.
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: 150 hours in all; 150 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (expired)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,361 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 11, 1987; 53 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,600 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-200-A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 005 Davis CA
- Destination: 061 Cameron Park CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0, 4,060 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 190° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 2:52 am from SAC, 29 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.