Cessna 150L accident near San Jacinto, California, February 24, 1994
On February 24, 1994 at about 8:27 pm local time, a Cessna 150L, registered N10998, was destroyed in an accident near San Jacinto, California. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S IMPAIRMENT OF JUDGMENT AND PERFORMANCE DUE TO ALCOHOL AND DRUGS, WHICH LED TO HIS IMPROPER PLANNING/DECISION, AND HIS FAILURE TO MAINTAIN ALTITUDE/CLEARANCE FROM MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN, WHILE MANEUVERING AT LOW ALTITUDE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 24, 1994 · about 8:27 pm local time
- Place
- San Jacinto, California
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 150L · all 150Ls on the register
- Registration
- N10998 · no longer on the register · serial 15075191
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
AFTER DEPARTING THE AIRPORT, THE PILOT CIRCLED THE PASSENGER'S HOUSE, THEN FLEW TOWARD MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN. A WITNESS (PASSENGER'S WIFE) SAID THAT WHEN THE AIRPLANE WAS OVER THE MOUNTAINS, SHE HEARD A NOISE & SAW THE PLANE PITCH DOWN & CRASH. IMPACT OCCURRED NEAR THE TOP OF A RIDGE AT AN ELEVATION OF ABOUT 2400' MSL. THE AIRPLANE WAS DESTROYED DUE TO EXTENSIVE IMPACT DAMAGE. NO PREEXISTING MALFUNCTION OR FAILURE OF THE AIRFRAME OR ENGINE WAS FOUND. THE RPM GAUGE WAS SEIZED AT 2400 RPM. THE PROPELLER BLADES EXHIBITED LEADING EDGE GOUGING, CHORDWISE SCUFFING & EXTENSIVE 'S' TWISTING. TESTING OF THE PILOT'S BLOOD SHOWED 0.003 UG/ML TETRAHYDROCANNABINOL (MARIJUANA), 0.013 UG/ML TETRAHYDROCANNABINOL CARBOXYLIC ACID (MARIJUANA), 9.617 UG/ML BUTALBITAL, 0.342 UG/ML DIAZEPAM, 0.302 UG/ML NORDIAZEPAM, & 21 MG/DL (0.021%) ETHANOL. TESTS OF HIS URINE SHOWED 0.808 UG/ML TETRAHYDROCANNABINOL CARBOXYLIC ACID & 51 MG/DL (0.051%) ETHANOL.
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: 95 hours in all; 64 in this make and model; 3 in the last 90 days; 1 in the last 30 days; 37 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,928 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, January 2, 1994; 78 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,600 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-200-A (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Hemet-Ryan Aviation, INC.
The flight
- Departed from: HMT Hemet CA at 8:09 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
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 | 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.