Cessna 150M accident near Chico, California, July 7, 1997
On July 7, 1997 at about 7:05 pm local time, a Cessna 150M, registered N8168U, was substantially damaged in an accident near Chico, California (Ranchaero airport). It was an instructional 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
failure of the student pilot to maintain adequate airspeed during a go-around. Trees at the departure end of the runway were a related factor.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 7, 1997 · about 7:05 pm local time
- Place
- Chico, California · Ranchaero · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 150M · all 150Ms on the register
- Registration
- N8168U · registry record · serial 15077905
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The student pilot was remaining in closed traffic to practice crosswind landings. While on short final approach for the 7th landing, he elected to perform a go-around. He increased power and retracted the flaps from 30 to 10 degrees. He then became concerned about a poor rate of climb and low airspeed, and he did not believe that the aircraft would safely clear trees at the departure end of the runway. Deciding to abort the go-around, he landed near the departure end of the runway. The nose wheel struck a concrete curb that marked the end of the runway. The aircraft then became airborne and struck a small tree. Inspection of the aircraft revealed no preexisting anomaly.
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: student
- Flight time: 26 hours in all; 26 in this make and model; 26 in the last 90 days; 17 in the last 30 days; 4 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,548 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, July 1, 1997; 100 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: O23 CA at 6:10 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 33, 2,280 ft by 30 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 270° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 97°F (36°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.
Other NTSB records under N8168U 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.