Cessna 150H accident near N. Palm Springs, California, February 7, 1992
On February 7, 1992 at about 11:15 pm local time, a Cessna 150H, registered N22357, was destroyed in an accident near N. Palm Springs, California. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN AIRSPEED DURING LOW ALTITUDE MANEUVERS AS A RESULT OF HIS PHYSICAL IMPAIRMENT DUE TO ALCOHOL AND DRUGS. FACTORS WHICH CONTRIBUTED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: THE PILOT'S POOR JUDGEMENT IN BUZZING HIS WORK LOCALE, AND HIS FAILURE TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE ALTITUDE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 7, 1992 · about 11:15 pm local time
- Place
- N. Palm Springs, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 150H · all 150Hs on the register
- Registration
- N22357 · registry record · serial 15068234
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE STUDENT PILOT BUZZED THE LOCALE WHERE HE WORKED, AND WHILE MANEUVERING BETWEEN 100 AND 500 FT AGL MADE A SERIES OF 45-60 DEG BANK TURNS. A PILOT WITNESS REPORTED THIS ACTIVITY LASTED FOR 5 TO 10 MINUTES UNTIL THE AIRPLANE ABRUPTLY PITCHED UP, STALLED, AND DESCENDED IN A NEAR VERTICAL NOSE DOWN ATTITUDE UNTIL IMPACTING THE DESERT TERRAIN. THE PILOT'S BLOOD ALCOHOL LEVEL WAS 120 MG/DL. IN ADDITION, METHAMPHETAMINE AND AMPHETAMINE WERE DETECTED IN THE PILOT'S BLOOD SAMPLE.
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: student
- Flight time: 125 hours in all; 125 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (expired)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,886 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 23, 1991; 30 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,600 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-200A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 050° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 25 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 5,000 ft
- Temperature: 66°F (19°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:46 pm from PSP, 7 miles away
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.