Cessna 150G accident near Fresno, California, December 14, 1990
On December 14, 1990 at about 6:30 pm local time, a Cessna 150G, registered N4651X, was destroyed in an accident near Fresno, California (Sierra Sky Park airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOTS INTENTIONAL FLIGHT INTO KNOWN ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS AND HIS FAILURE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT. FACTORS IN THE ACCIDENT WERE: THE FOGGY WEATHER CONDITIONS; SPATIAL DISORIENTATION; AND THE PILOT'S OVER CONFIDENCE IN HIS OWN PERSONAL ABILITY.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 14, 1990 · about 6:30 pm local time
- Place
- Fresno, California · Sierra Sky Park · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 150G · all 150Gs on the register
- Registration
- N4651X · no longer on the register · serial 15064701
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE NON-INSTRUMENT RATED PILOT WAS ATTEMPTING TO FLY UNDER VISUAL FLIGHT RULES. THE WEATHER, AT THE AIRPORT OF DEPARTURE, WAS BELOW MINIMUMS REQUIRED FOR FLIGHT UNDER VISUAL RULES. THE AIRCRAFT WAS REPORTED MISSING BY FAMILY MEMBERS THE DAY AFTER THE AIRCRAFT TOOK OFF. AFTER A LENGTHY SEARCH BY CIVIL AIR PATROL PERSONNEL, THE AIRCRAFT'S WRECKAGE WAS FOUND IN A POND NEAR THE AIRPORT OF DEPARTURE.
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: single-engine land
- Flight time: 150 hours in all; 25 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (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 O200A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Q60 at 6:28 pm
- Destination: HWD Hayward CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 30, 2,920 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Sky: not recorded
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Observation at 7:10 pm from FAT, 10 miles away
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.