Cessna 150 accident near San Diego, California, April 3, 1993
On April 3, 1993 at about 9:50 pm local time, a Cessna 150, registered N50287, was destroyed in an accident near San Diego, California (Montgomery Field). It was a personal 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 FAILURE OF THE WING FLAP CONTROL DUE TO THE IMPROPER TYPE OF FUSE INSTALLED BY UNIDENTIFIED PERSONS. FACTORS RELATING TO THIS ACCIDENT WERE THE FLAP MOTOR PARTIAL FAILURE DUE TO CORROSION AND THE TOTAL FAILURE OF THE FUSE DUE TO THE WRONG TYPE AMPERAGE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 3, 1993 · about 9:50 pm local time
- Place
- San Diego, California · Montgomery Field · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 150 · all 150s on the register
- Registration
- N50287 · no longer on the register · serial 15069198
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT WAS PRACTICING TOUCH AND GO TAKEOFFS AND LANDINGS. THE FLAPS WERE FULLY EXTENDED DURING THE LANDING PHASE OF THE MANEUVER. DURING THE SECOND LANDING ROLL THE PILOT RAISED THE FLAP HANDLE AND BEGAN THE TAKEOFF ROLL. WHEN THE AIRPLANE LIFTED OFF THE PILOT OBSERVED THAT THE FLAPS REMAINED FULLY EXTENDED AND WOULD NOT RAISE. THE PILOT WAS ABLE TO TURN THE AIRPLANE, BUT COULD NOT GAIN ADDITIONAL ALTITUDE WITHOUT THE STALL WARNING HORN ACTIVATING. THE PILOT TURNED THE AIRPLANE TOWARD THE AIRPORT BUT OBSERVED A POWERLINE. THE PILOT WAS UNABLE TO CLIMB OVER THE POWERLINE AND BANKED THE AIRPLANE. THE AIRPLANE STALLED DURING THE BANKING TURN. THE POST ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT THE FUSE HAD BLOWN AND WAS THE WRONG TYPE OF FUSE. THE FLAP MOTOR TERMINALS WERE CORRODED AND THE FLAP MOTOR OPERATED INTERMITTENTLY UNDER ALL LOAD CONDITIONS.
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
- Flight time: 150 hours in all; 150 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,600 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 11, 1992; 100 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,600 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-200-A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 28R, 3,400 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 240° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 57°F (14°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
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.