Cessna 150M accident near Lodi, California, March 15, 1988
On March 15, 1988 at about 11:39 pm local time, a Cessna 150M, registered N714FJ, was substantially damaged in an accident near Lodi, California (Lodi 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
- March 15, 1988 · about 11:39 pm local time
- Place
- Lodi, California · Lodi · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 150M · all 150Ms on the register
- Registration
- N714FJ · no longer on the register · serial 15079140
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
ON THE DAY OF THE ACCIDENT, THE PILOT DEPARTED LANCASTER, CALIFORNIA, FLEW TO FRESNO TO PICK UP A PASSENGER AND THEN CONTINUED ON TO LODI, THE ULTIMATE DESTINATION. WHILE BEING VECTORED TOWARD THE AIRPORT AT LODI, THE ENGINE QUIT AND THE AIRCRAFT COLLIDED WITH GRAPE VINES DURING THE SUBSEQUENT FORCED LANDING. FAA INSPECTORS REPORTED THAT THE FUEL TANKS WERE EMPTY AND THAT THE FUEL SYSTEM CONTINUITY WAS INTACT. THE PILOT SAID THAT HE DEPARTED LANCASTER WITH FULL FUEL TANKS. AT FRESNO, THE PILOT ONLY LOOKED VISUALLY IN THE TANKS AND REPORTED THAT HE SAW 'ABOUT HALF FULL' TANKS, WHICH MATCHED WHAT THE FUEL GAGES INDICATED. THE PILOT DID NOT USE A MEASURING DEVICE DURING THE FUEL LEVEL CHECK AT FRESNO. THE HOBBS METER LOG REVEALED THAT THE PILOT FLEW THE AIRCRAFT 3.5 ELAPSED HOURS FROM LANCASTER TO 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: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 111 hours in all; 22 in this make and model; 13 in the last 90 days; 5 in the last 30 days; 60 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,061 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 20, 1988; 16 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: Q60 Fresno CA at 10:00 pm
- Destination: 1O3
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 8, 3,090 ft by 24 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 320° at 11 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 68°F (20°C), dew point 37°F (3°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:52 pm from SCK, 14 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.