Cessna 150M accident near Dana Point, California, June 25, 1991
On June 25, 1991 at about 6:11 pm local time, a Cessna 150M, registered N3674V, was substantially damaged in an accident near Dana Point, California. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE SEIZURE OF THE NO. 1 CYLINDER'S EXHAUST VALVE IN ITS GUIDE AND THE RELATED FRACTURING OF THE ROCKER ARM; AND THE PILOT'S OPERATION OF THE AIRCRAFT WITH KNOWN DEFICIENCIES.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 25, 1991 · about 6:11 pm local time
- Place
- Dana Point, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 150M · all 150Ms on the register
- Registration
- N3674V · no longer on the register · serial 15076584
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE CRUISING NEAR A BEACH THE AIRPLANE'S ENGINE LOST ALL POWER. THE PILOT MADE A FORCED LANDING OFF SHORE. UPON TOUCHING DOWN IN SHALLOW WATER THE AIRPLANE NOSED OVER. THE EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE REVEALED THAT ITS NO.1 CYLINDER'S EXHAUST VALVE HAD PROBABLY BECOME STUCK IN ITS GUIDE, & ULTIMATELY THE ROCKER ARM BROKE. FURTHER INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT TWO DAYS BEFORE THE ACCIDENT THE PILOT HAD EXPERIENCED A POWER LOSS & WHEN THE ENGINE WAS EXAMINED THE SAME STUCK VALVE WAS FOUND. THE MECHANIC WHO FREED UP THE VALVE HAD CAUTIONED THE PILOT THAT, ALTHOUGH HE WAS SUCCESSFUL IN FREEING UP THE VALVE, THE ENGINE WAS IN NEED OF AN OVERHAUL & THE VALVE COULD BECOME STUCK, AT ANY TIME, DURING FUTURE FLIGHTS. THE ENGINE HAD BEEN OPERATED FOR ABOUT 1857 HOURS SINCE ITS LAST MAJOR OVERHAUL.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 344 hours in all; 55 in this make and model; 39 in the last 90 days; 20 in the last 30 days; 242 as pilot in command; 17 on instruments
- 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
- Operator: Pegasas Flight Center, INC.
The flight
- Destination: FUL Fullerton CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 300° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 2,500 ft
- Temperature: 90°F (32°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.