Cessna 150 accident near Santa Catalina, California, July 13, 1990
On July 13, 1990 at about 9:30 pm local time, a Cessna 150, registered N1398Q, was destroyed in an accident near Santa Catalina, California. It was an aerial observation flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE ENGINE FAILURE DUE TO CARBURETOR ICE AND THE PILOTS IMPROPER USE OF CARBURETOR HEAT.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 13, 1990 · about 9:30 pm local time
- Place
- Santa Catalina, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 150 · all 150s on the register
- Registration
- N1398Q · no longer on the register · serial 15072698
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Aerial observation flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT STATED HE HAD BEEN FISH SPOTTING AT 1000 FEET (MSL) WHEN THE ENGINE SUDDENLY QUIT. HE WAS ABLE TO GET A RESTART BUT ONLY WITH PARTIAL POWER. HE WAS UNABLE TO MAINTAIN ALTITUDE AND DITCHED INTO THE OCEAN. THE PILOT CALCULATED APPROXIMATELY 40 GALLONS OF AUTOMOTIVE FUEL REMAINING. THE TEMPERATURE/DEW POINT OF THE CLOSEST OFFICIAL REPORTING STATION WAS 87 AND 64 DEGREES RESPECTIVELY. ACCORDING TO THE ICING PROBABILITY CHART. THE TEMPERATURE/DEW POINT SPREAD CORRESPONDS TO A POINT ON THE CHART WITHIN THE 'SERIOUS ICING GLIDE POWER' RANGE.
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
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,631 hours in all; 1,390 in this make and model; 1,574 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (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-200-A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: L9B Long Beach CA at 11:00 am
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Observation at 9:00 pm from LGB
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.