Cessna 150H accident near Dardanelle, California, November 28, 1993
On November 28, 1993 at about 6:30 pm local time, a Cessna 150H, registered N22474, was substantially damaged in an accident near Dardanelle, California. 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 MISJUDGED THE LOCAL WEATHER. THE WIND CONDITIONS AND THE PILOT'S INABILITY TO COMPENSATE FOR THE STRONG DOWNDRAFT WIND CONDITIONS WERE FACTORS.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 28, 1993 · about 6:30 pm local time
- Place
- Dardanelle, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 150H · all 150Hs on the register
- Registration
- N22474 · no longer on the register · serial 15068305
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
According to the pilot, he was familiar with the lake area which was located in a canyon. The pilot was aware that he could not see the far end of the lake nor the canyon area beyond the lake where he planned to climb out. Prior to taking off in the float-equipped airplane, the pilot recalled that he had looked in the distance and observed water that was a deeper blue in color. This indicated the presence of stronger winds. The pilot reported that he did not perceive this as being 'abnormal' because the wind pattern for the lake was for the up-canyon blowing winds to increase in strength in the midmorning. During initial climb, a previously hidden 'cell of virga' was encountered. The pilot stated that he turned away from the cell, but encountered strong turbulence and windshear which was accompanied by a downburst. Unable to arrest the sink rate, the airplane contacted the water in a 'high rate of descent.'
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: airline transport pilot, flight instructor
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,868 hours in all; 476 in this make and model; 202 in the last 90 days; 64 in the last 30 days; 2,768 as pilot in command; 1,879 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,408 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 1, 1993; 43 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,760 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E2D (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Norcal Aviation
The flight
- Destination: Angels Camp CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 20 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 4,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 45°F (7°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.
Other NTSB records under N22474 the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.