Cessna A150M accident near Sacramento, California, August 23, 1993
On August 23, 1993 at about 6:15 pm local time, a Cessna A150M, registered N9861J, was substantially damaged in an accident near Sacramento, California (Natomas Field). It was an instructional 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 DUAL STUDENT PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL, IMPROPER USE OF THE FLIGHT CONTROLS, AND FAILURE TO RELINQUISH THE FLIGHT CONTROLS TO THE CFI. THE SOFT DIRT WAS A FACTOR IN THIS ACCIDENT.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 23, 1993 · about 6:15 pm local time
- Place
- Sacramento, California · Natomas Field · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna A150M · all A150Ms on the register
- Registration
- N9861J · no longer on the register · serial 15000760
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE DUAL NONCERTIFICATED STUDENT PILOT FAILED TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL DURING THE LANDING ROLL. THE STUDENT APPLIED RIGHT PEDAL, RUDDER AND BRAKES, TO STOP THE AIRPLANE. THE CFI ATTEMPTED TO ASSUME CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE, BUT THE DUAL STUDENT WOULD NOT RELINQUISH CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE. THE AIRPLANE ENTERED THE SOFT TERRAIN, COLLAPSED THE NOSE GEAR, AND NOSED OVER ONTO ITS BACK.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 606 hours in all; 322 in this make and model; 164 in the last 90 days; 75 in the last 30 days; 475 as pilot in command; 170 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, August 10, 1993; 36 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,600 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-200-A (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: American Aero Club, INC.
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 16, 2,700 ft by 30 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 75°F (24°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.