Cessna 150L accident near Fresno, California, January 4, 1992
On January 4, 1992 at about 9:15 pm local time, a Cessna 150L, registered N10828, was substantially damaged in an accident near Fresno, California. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE IMPROPER MAJOR REPAIR OF THE CARBURETOR HEAT CONTROL BY UNIDENTIFIED PERSONS THAT RESULTED THE FAILURE OF THE AIR INTAKE DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM AND THE LOSS OF ENGINE POWER.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 4, 1992 · about 9:15 pm local time
- Place
- Fresno, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 150L · all 150Ls on the register
- Registration
- N10828 · no longer on the register · serial 15075068
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
AFTER TAKEOFF FROM A TOUCH AND GO LANDING THE PILOT REPORTED THAT THE ENGINE LOST POWER. THE AIRPLANE ENTERED A EMERGENCY DESCENT AND COLLIDED WITH SOME ELECTRICAL WIRES BEFORE CRASHING ONTO A STREET OFF THE AIRPORT. AN EXAMINATION OF THE CARBURETOR AIR INTAKE HOUSING AFTER THE ACCIDENT DISCLOSED THAT THE VALVE PLATE HAD BEEN IMPROPERLY INSTALLED BY UNIDENTIFIED PERSONS AND HAD BROKEN FROM THE VALVE PLATE CONTROL SHAFT. THE LOOSE PLATE IN THE AIR INTAKE HOUSING WOULD HAVE THE CAPABILITY OF REDUCING COLD AIR TO THE CARBURETOR AND THUS REDUCING POWER FROM THE ENGINE.
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
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded, January 2, 2000
- Maximum gross weight: 1,600 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-200-A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.