Cessna 150M accident near San Andreas, California, March 22, 1992
On March 22, 1992 at about 11:30 pm local time, a Cessna 150M, registered N2869V, was destroyed in an accident near San Andreas, California (Private airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR'S POOR INFLIGHT PLANNING/DECISION BY PERFORMING A 360 DEGREE TURN MANEUVER AT A LOW ALTITUDE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 22, 1992 · about 11:30 pm local time
- Place
- San Andreas, California · Private · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 150M · all 150Ms on the register
- Registration
- N2869V · no longer on the register · serial 15076305
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE ON A DUAL CROSS-COUNTRY FLIGHT THE CFI RETARDED THE THROTTLE TO SIMULATE AN ENGINE FAILURE. THE STUDENT PILOT EXECUTED THE EMERGENCY CHECKLIST AND SELECTED A PRIVATELY OWNED 1500 FT BY 50 FT DIRT AIRSTRIP. THE AIRPLANE WAS TOO HIGH WHEN IT APPROACHED THE AIRSTRIP AND THE STUDENT APPLIED FULL FLAPS. THE AIRPLANE WAS STILL TOO HIGH WHEN IT ARRIVED OVER THE APPROACH END OF THE RUNWAY. THE CFI ASSUMED THE CONTROLS AND IMMEDIATELY EXECUTED A SHARP LEFT 360 DEGREE OVERHEAD BANKING MANEUVER TO DEMONSTRATE THAT THE LANDING COULD STILL BE MADE. WHEN THE AIRPLANE ROLLED OUT IT WAS NEAR THE DEPARTURE END OF THE RUNWAY. THE CFI APPLIED FULL POWER AND THE STUDENT REMINDED THE CFI THAT THE FLAPS WERE FULLY EXTENDED. THE CFI RAISED THE FLAPS BUT WITHIN SECONDS THE AIRPLANE CRASHED BEYOND THE DEPARTURE END OF THE RUNWAY.
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: 395 hours in all; 170 in this make and model; 80 in the last 90 days; 26 in the last 30 days; 333 as pilot in command; 94 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 7,130 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, February 28, 1992; 45 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,600 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-200-A (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Buchanan Flying Club
The flight
- Departed from: CCR Concord CA at 10:30 pm
- Destination: O22 Columbia CA
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 15, 1,500 ft by 50 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 3,500 ft
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 |
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.