Cessna 150L accident near Hanford, California, April 13, 1990
On April 13, 1990, a Cessna 150L, registered N7309G, was substantially damaged in an accident near Hanford, California (Hanford Muni 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 FAILURE OF THE PILOT IN COMMAND TO MAINTAIN A SUFFICIENT AIRSPEED FOR THE WIND CONDITIONS ENCOUNTERED DURING THE ATTEMPTED LANDING.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 13, 1990
- Place
- Hanford, California · Hanford Muni · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 150L · all 150Ls on the register
- Registration
- N7309G · no longer on the register · serial 15074643
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT OBTAINED A PREFLIGHT WEATHER BRIEFING WHICH ADVISED OF LOCAL AREA WINDS FROM THE NORTH WEST AT 15 KTS WITH GUSTS TO 20 KTS. THE PILOT SAID HE FLEW A NORMAL PATTERN FOR RUNWAY 32. AS THE AIRCRAFT ENTERED THE FLARE, A STRONG GUST OF WIND SUDDENLY LIFTED THE LEFT WING AND THE NOSE OF THE AIRCRAFT 'PITCHED UP VIOLENTLY.' THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO COUNTER THE ATTITUDE DEVIATION WITH FORWARD AND LEFT CONTROL INPUTS. THE AIRCRAFT LANDED ON THE NOSE WHEEL, THE RIGHT WING STRUCK THE AIRPORT VASI LIGHT INSTALLATION AND THE AIRCRAFT CART WHEELED OVER ONTO ITS BACK. WITNESSES AT THE AIRPORT REPORTED THAT STRONG GUSTY CROSS WINDS EXISTED AT THE TIME OF THE AIRCRAFT'S APPROACH AND LANDING ATTEMPT.
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: commercial pilot, military
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 342 hours in all; 12 in this make and model; 54 in the last 90 days; 25 in the last 30 days; 254 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,600 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-200A (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Navy Lemore Aero Club, INC.
The flight
- Departed from: NLC Nas Lemore CA
- Destination: O18
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 32, 3,965 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 020° at 12 knots, gusting 16
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 4,000 ft
- Temperature: 86°F (30°C), dew point 43°F (6°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 11:55 pm from NLC, 18 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.