Cessna 150K accident near El Monte, California, November 14, 1994
On November 14, 1994 at about 2:50 am local time, a Cessna 150K, registered N6110K, was substantially damaged in an accident near El Monte, California. It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
fuel exhaustion due to the failure of both pilots to ensure that an adequate supply was on board prior to departure.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 14, 1994 · about 2:50 am local time
- Place
- El Monte, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 150K · all 150Ks on the register
- Registration
- N6110K · registry record · serial 15077531
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR AND HIS DUAL PRIMARY STUDENT WERE COMPLETING A CROSS-COUNTRY FLIGHT AND IN THE PROCESS OF LETTING DOWN FOR PATTERN ENTRY AT EL MONTE WHEN THE ENGINE LOST POWER. THE FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR ATTEMPTED TO MAKE A NIGHT FORCED LANDING IN A DRY RIVERBED AND COLLIDED WITH GROUND OBSTRUCTIONS DURING TOUCHDOWN. THE AIRCRAFT WAS EXAMINED AT THE ACCIDENT SITE BY A SAFETY BOARD INVESTIGATOR. COMPLETE FUEL SYSTEM CONTINUITY WAS ESTABLISHED WITH NO EVIDENCE OF LINE OR TANK LEAKAGE. THE FUEL TANK VENT SYSTEM WAS NOT BLOCKED AND NO EVIDENCE OF FUEL SIPHONING WAS OBSERVED ON THE UPPER SURFACES OF THE WINGS. ONLY RESIDUAL FUEL WAS FOUND IN THE FUEL SYSTEM.
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 multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,100 hours in all; 250 in this make and model; 160 in the last 90 days; 100 in the last 30 days; 987 as pilot in command; 648 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,764 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 1, 1994; 81 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: LAS Las Vegas NV
- Destination: EMT CA
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: night, bright
- Visibility: 12 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 2:45 am from EMT, 5 miles away
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.