Cessna 150H accident near Ft Mojave, Arizona, January 26, 1992
On January 26, 1992 at about 7:10 pm local time, a Cessna 150H, registered N23455, was substantially damaged in an accident near Ft Mojave, Arizona (Sun Valley airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
AN INADEQUATE ANNUAL INSPECTION PERFORMED BY OTHER MAINTENANCE PERSONNEL. CONTRIBUTING TO THIS ACCIDENT WAS THE FLAP CABLE FAILURE DUE TO CORROSION.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 26, 1992 · about 7:10 pm local time
- Place
- Ft Mojave, Arizona · Sun Valley
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 150H · all 150Hs on the register
- Registration
- N23455 · registry record · serial 15068959
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE SOLO STUDENT PILOT WAS PRACTICING TOUCH AND GO LANDINGS AND TAKEOFFS. ON THE THIRD AND FINAL LANDING WITH THE FLAPS EXTENDED A FORCE PULLED THE AIRPLANE TO THE RIGHT. THE PILOT APPLIED POWER AND SIMULTANEOUSLY RETRACTED THE FLAPS. DURING THE INITIAL CLIMB THE LEFT WING STALLED AND THE AIRPLANE DESCENDED, UNCONTROLLED, STRUCK THE GROUND AND CARTWHEELED, COMING TO REST RIGHT-SIDE-UP. EXAMINATION OF THE WRECKAGE DISCLOSED THAT THE LEFT FLAP WAS PARTIALLY EXTENDED AND THE RIGHT FLAP WAS RETRACTED. THE EXAMINATION ALSO REVEALED THAT THE LEFT FLAP CABLE FAILED BEFORE THE IMPACT AND THE FRACTURE SURFACE WAS CORRODED AND FRAYED. THE LAST ANNUAL INSPECTION WAS PERFORMED 1 YEAR BEFORE THE ACCIDENT BUT THE AIRPLANE HAD FLOWN ONLY 37 FLIGHT HOURS SINCE THE INSPECTION.
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: 73 hours in all; 71 in this make and model; 21 in the last 90 days; 10 in the last 30 days; 22 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,283 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 2, 1991; 37 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,600 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-200-A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: EED Needles CA at 6:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 36, 3,700 ft by 42 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 330° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 63°F (17°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.