Cessna 150M accident near Venice, California, July 7, 1989
On July 7, 1989 at about 5:21 pm local time, a Cessna 150M, registered N704YY, was substantially damaged in an accident near Venice, California (Santa Monica Muni airport). It was an instructional 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 IMPROPER INSTALLATION AND INSPECTION OF THE CARBURETOR THROTTLE LINKAGE ARM.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 7, 1989 · about 5:21 pm local time
- Place
- Venice, California · Santa Monica Muni · 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
- N704YY · no longer on the register · serial 15078990
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR AND THE STUDENT PILOT WERE PRACTICING TOUCH AND GO LANDINGS. JUST AFTER THE SECOND TAKEOFF, THE ENGINE POWER DROPPED TO IDLE. DESPITE EMERGENCY PROCEDURES, THE ENGINE POWER WOULD NOT INCREASE AND A FORCED LANDING WAS MADE IN A RESIDENTIAL AREA. DURING THE DESCENT, THE AIRPLANE IMPACTED WIRES AND A TRAFFIC LIGHT POLE. POST ACCIDENT INSPECTION REVEALED THE THROTTLE ARM HAD FALLEN OFF THE CARBURETOR SHAFT. THE UNIT ALSO HAD NOT BEEN SAFETIED IN PLACE.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 3,782 hours in all; 400 in this make and model; 190 in the last 90 days; 67 in the last 30 days; 1,270 as pilot in command; 177 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded, April 20, 1989
- Maximum gross weight: 1,600 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-200-A (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Danforth Aviation
The flight
- Departed from: SMO at 5:10 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 230° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 3 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 68°F (20°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 |
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.