Cessna 150L accident near Van Nuys, California, October 15, 1993
On October 15, 1993 at about 1:58 am local time, a Cessna 150L, registered N150GS, was substantially damaged in an accident near Van Nuys, California (Van Nuys airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was 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/preparation and fuel consumption calculations. Fuel exhaustion is 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
- October 15, 1993 · about 1:58 am local time
- Place
- Van Nuys, California · Van Nuys · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 150L · all 150Ls on the register
- Registration
- N150GS · registry record · serial 15073824
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PRIVATE PILOT WAS COMPLETING A CROSS-COUNTRY FLIGHT. WHEN THE PILOT WAS ABOUT TO ENTER THE TRAFFIC PATTERN, THE ENGINE BEGAN TO LOSE POWER. THE PILOT ADVISED THE LOCAL CONTROLLER AND WAS CLEARED FOR A STRAIGHT-IN APPROACH. THE AIRPLANE'S ALTITUDE WAS INSUFFICIENT TO NEGOTIATE THE RUNWAY AND THE PILOT ELECTED TO LAND IN AN OPEN FIELD ABOUT 1/4 MILE NORTH OF THE AIRPORT. EXAMINATION OF THE WRECKAGE DISCLOSED THAT THE FUEL TANKS CONTAINED 2.1 GALLONS. THE TOTAL FUEL CAPACITY IS 26 GALLONS OF WHICH 22.5 GALLONS ARE USABLE. DURING LANDING THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH A VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES TO THE OCCUPANT OF THE VEHICLE.
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: 175 hours in all; 27 in this make and model; 92 in the last 90 days; 36 in the last 30 days; 97 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 1, 1992; 75 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: IGM Kingman AZ at 10:30 pm
- Destination: VNY
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 16R, 8,001 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: dusk
- Wind: from 270° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 3,000 ft
- Temperature: 66°F (19°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 2:01 am from VNY, 1 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.