Cessna 150D accident near Carrville, California, July 16, 1994
On July 16, 1994 at about 4:40 pm local time, a Cessna 150D, registered N6052T, was destroyed in an accident near Carrville, 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
a loss of engine power for undetermined reasons. The mountainous terrain and lack of a suitable forced landing area within gliding distance was a factor in the accident.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 16, 1994 · about 4:40 pm local time
- Place
- Carrville, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 150D · all 150Ds on the register
- Registration
- N6052T · registry record · serial 15060752
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE FLIGHT WAS EN ROUTE TO PORTLAND OVER MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN. AT 0940, THE U.S. FOREST SERVICE WAS NOTIFIED OF A FIRE AND THE AIRCRAFT WRECKAGE WAS SUBSEQUENTLY LOCATED IN A SADDLE AT THE 6,480-FOOT LEVEL. THE ACCIDENT SITE IS THE ONLY RELATIVELY CLEAR AREA IN THE VICINITY. AT 1000, A HELICOPTER REACHED THE ACCIDENT SITE AND DROPPED WATER ON THE BURNING WRECKAGE. THE WRECKAGE WAS FOUND WITHIN A 23-FOOT-DIAMETER AREA. AN EXAMINATION OF THE AIRCRAFT WRECKAGE REVEALED DAMAGE CONSISTENT WITH A LOW-SPEED, MODERATE-ANGLE CONTROLLED IMPACT. THE AIRCRAFT'S ENGINE HAD BEEN MODIFIED TO OPERATE ON 87 OCTANE AUTO FUEL. AN INSPECTION REVEALED THE SPARK PLUGS WERE WORN, WITH THE ELECTRODES FOUND TO HAVE A GAP IN EXCESS OF .022 OF AN INCH. NONE OF THE SPARK PLUGS WERE FOULED. THE FUEL INLET SCREEN EXHIBITED A DARK, WET SUBSTANCE. A THREAD COMPOUND WAS PRESENT AND ON THE FUEL INLET SCREEN. THE CARBURETOR HAD COMPOSITE FLOATS INSTALLED. THE TWO-PIECE VENTURI WAS FOUND DISPLACED IN THE CARBURETOR THROAT. A LINEMAN AT LINCOLN HAD SEEN THE AIRCRAFT BEING FUELED FROM SEVERAL CANS THE DAY PRIOR TO ITS DEPARTURE FROM THE LINCOLN AIRPORT.
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: 200 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,980 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 1, 1993; 49 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,600 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E2D (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: O51 Lincoln CA at 3:00 pm
- Destination: Portland OR
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 160° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 25 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 61°F (16°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 4:50 pm from RDD, 52 miles away
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 N6052T 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.