Cessna 150 accident near Mesquite, Nevada, April 19, 1992
On April 19, 1992 at about 7:10 pm local time, a Cessna 150, registered N6582G, was substantially damaged in an accident near Mesquite, Nevada. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S POOR PREFLIGHT PLANNING AND IMPROPER FUEL CONSUMPTION CALCULATIONS. FACTORS RELATING TO THIS ACCIDENT WERE FUEL EXHAUSTION, AND THE UNSUITABLE TERRAIN, AND LACK OF UNDERSTANDING OF THE AIRPLANE'S FUEL SYSTEM.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 19, 1992 · about 7:10 pm local time
- Place
- Mesquite, Nevada
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 150 · all 150s on the register
- Registration
- N6582G · no longer on the register · serial 150722082
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT WAS CONDUCTING THE SECOND LEG OF A VFR CROSS COUNTRY FLIGHT WHEN THE ENGINE BEGAN TO INTERMITTENTLY LOSE POWER. THE PILOT ELECTED TO CONTINUE TO THE DESTINATION AIRPORT SINCE THE SURROUNDING TERRAIN WAS UNSUITABLE FOR AN OFF AIRPORT LANDING. BEFORE REACHING THE PRIVATELY OWNED AIRPORT, THE ENGINE SUSTAINED A TOTAL LOSS OF POWER. DURING THE ENSUING EMERGENCY LANDING THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH A DIRT EMBANKMENT. THE WRECKAGE EXAMINATION REVEALED THAT THE FUEL TANKS CONTAINED ABOUT THREE AND A HALF GALLONS OF FUEL. THE PILOT HAD MADE AN UNPLANNED LANDING AT AN ALTERNATE AIRPORT BEFORE CONTINUING TO THE DESTINATION AIRPORT. HE WAS NOT AWARE OF THE TOTAL USEABLE FUEL IN THE AIRCRAFT AND TOLD FAA INSPECTORS THAT THE TOTAL PLANNED DISTANCE WAS 220 MILES; THE ACTUAL DISTANCE WAS 264 MILES.
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: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 190 hours in all; 145 in this make and model; 10 in the last 90 days; 134 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,978 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, April 8, 1992; 15 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: PRC Prescott AZ at 5:15 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 350° at 8 knots, gusting 10
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.