Lockheed PV-2 accident near Lakeport, California, September 29, 1990
On September 29, 1990 at about 7:29 pm local time, a Lockheed PV-2, registered N7250C, was destroyed in an accident near Lakeport, California. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 8 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN AIRSPEED DURING A PULL-UP FROM A LOW PASS. FACTORS WHICH CONTRIBUTED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: THE PILOT'S POOR JUDGEMENT IN BUZZING THE SEAPLANES WHICH RESULTED IN INSUFFICIENT ALTITUDE TO RECOVER FROM THE STALL, AND THE PILOT'S INEXPERIENCE IN THE AIRPLANE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 29, 1990 · about 7:29 pm local time
- Place
- Lakeport, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 8 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Lockheed PV-2 · all PV-2s on the register
- Registration
- N7250C · no longer on the register · serial 84061
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE AIRPLANE WAS OBSERVED MAKING SEVERAL LOW PASSES, WITH ITS SMOKE GENERATORS OPERATING, OVER SEAPLANES ANCHORED IN A LAKE. THE LAST PASS WAS REPORTEDLY AT AN ALTITUDE LESS THAN 50 FT, AND THEN THE AIRPLANE WAS OBSERVED ENTERING AN ABNORMALLY STEEP CLIMB, FOLLOWED BY A NEAR VERTICAL NOSE-DOWN ATTITUDE TO IMPACT. A VIDEO TAPE SHOWS THAT BOTH PROPELLERS WERE TURNING. THE PILOT HAD RECEIVED HIS MULTI-ENGINE RATING IN A BEECH 76 ON 3/6/90, AND HIS TYPE RATING IN THE AIRPLANE 3/28/90.
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: multi-engine land; single-engine land
- Flight time: 811 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 33,000 lb
- Seats: 7
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: P&W R2800-31 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: STS Santa Rosa CA at 7:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 7 |
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.