Cessna 150L accident near Chico, California, August 21, 1990
On August 21, 1990 at about 4:50 am local time, a Cessna 150L, registered N111LN, was substantially damaged in an accident near Chico, California (Chico airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE STUDENT PILOT FAILED TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL DURING LANDING ROLL AND THE CFI FAILED TO TAKE REMEDIAL ACTION.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 21, 1990 · about 4:50 am local time
- Place
- Chico, California · Chico · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 150L · all 150Ls on the register
- Registration
- N111LN · registry record · serial 15073501
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE INSTRUCTOR STATED AFTER COMPLETING SEVEN TAKEOFF AND LANDINGS AT THEIR BASE AIRPORT THEY PROCEEDED TO ANOTHER LOCAL AIRPORT FOR FURTHER PRACTICE TO MEET THE NIGHT TIME REQUIREMENTS OF THE PRIVATE PILOT APPLICANT. AFTER LANDING, THE LEFT WHEEL EXITED THE PAVEMENT BUT REMAINED BETWEEN RUNWAY LIGHTS AND THE PAVEMENT THE HEAVY GROWTH OF WEEDS CAUSED THE AIRCRAFT TO YAW TO THE LEFT AT WHICH TIME THE NOSE WHEEL HIT A CHUCK HOLE, COLLAPSING THE NOSE GEAR AND THE AIRCRAFT NOSED OVER.
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: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 642 hours in all; 340 in this make and model; 409 in the last 90 days; 162 in the last 30 days; 575 as pilot in command; 212 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ 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
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 33, 2,280 ft by 30 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: night, bright
- Visibility: 75 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°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.