Cessna 150F accident near Franklin, California, May 20, 1990
On May 20, 1990 at about 11:30 pm local time, a Cessna 150F, registered N27G, was substantially damaged in an accident near Franklin, California (Franklin 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 FIXED BASE OPERATOR MECHANIC USED IMPROPER BOLT/NUT DURING REPAIR OF THE ELEVATOR SYSTEM.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 20, 1990 · about 11:30 pm local time
- Place
- Franklin, California · Franklin · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 150F · all 150Fs on the register
- Registration
- N27G · registry record · serial 15062999
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE IN NORMAL CRUISE FLT, THE AIRPLANE'S ELEVATOR JAMMED. THE PILOT ELECTED TO LND AT THE NEAREST ARPT. THE PLT WAS UNABLE TO FLARE THE AIRPLANE AND IT SUSTAINED A HARD LANDING. THE INVESTIGATION DSCLSD THAT A BOLT IN THE ELEVATOR SYSTEM HAD BACKED OFF AND JAMMED THE ELEVATOR BELLCRANK. AN INCORRECT ELEVATOR RETAINING BOLT AND NUT WERE USED, WHICH DID NOT PROVIDE PROVISION FOR A COTTER PIN.
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: airline transport pilot, flight instructor
- Ratings: multi-engine land; multi-engine sea; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 10,000 hours in all; 1,500 in this make and model; 30 in the last 90 days; 10 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,147 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 14, 1990; 3 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,650 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-200 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SAC Sacramento CA at 11:15 pm
- Destination: SCK Stockton CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 27, 3,100 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 260° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
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.