Cessna 150G accident near Point Mugu, California, December 20, 1991
On December 20, 1991 at about 7:48 pm local time, a Cessna 150G, registered N8572J, was substantially damaged in an accident near Point Mugu, California (Point Mugu Nas airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S DISREGARD OF THE AVAILABLE WIND INFORMATION. CONTRIBUTING TO THIS ACCIDENT WAS A HIGH TAIL WIND.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 20, 1991 · about 7:48 pm local time
- Place
- Point Mugu, California · Point Mugu Nas
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 150G · all 150Gs on the register
- Registration
- N8572J · no longer on the register · serial 15066472
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
AFTER RECEIVING THE AUTOMATIC TERMINAL INFORMATION SERVICE THAT REPORTED THE SURFACE WIND FROM THE NORTHEAST AT 28 KNOTS, THE PILOT NEVERTHELESS ELECTED TO TAXI DOWNWIND TOWARDS THE RUNWAY. UPON REACHING THE RUNWAY THE PILOT TURNED RIGHT TO ALIGN THE AIRPLANE WITH THE RUNWAY. DURING THE TURN THE WIND LIFTED THE EMPENNAGE CAUSING THE AIRPLANE TO NOSE OVER. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT HE WAS APPLYING THE FLIGHT CONTROLS IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE PILOT'S OPERATING HANDBOOK.
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: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 7,126 hours in all; 2,263 in this make and model; 5 in the last 90 days; 1 in the last 30 days; 5,667 as pilot in command; 1,986 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 30, 1991
- Maximum gross weight: 1,600 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-200-A (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Point Mugu Nas Flying Club
The flight
- Runway 27, 5,500 ft by 200 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 070° at 30 knots, gusting 43
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 68°F (20°C), dew point 18°F (-8°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 7:55 pm from NTD, 1 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.