Cessna 150M accident near Carbonado, Washington, September 12, 1986
On September 12, 1986 at about 9:39 pm local time, a Cessna 150M, registered N9250U, was destroyed in an accident near Carbonado, Washington. 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
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 12, 1986 · about 9:39 pm local time
- Place
- Carbonado, Washington · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 150M · all 150Ms on the register
- Registration
- N9250U · no longer on the register · serial 15078200
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE INSTRUCTOR AND PASSENGER DEPARTED ON EITHER AN INTRODUCTORY FLIGHT, INITIAL INSTRUCTIONAL FLIGHT, (OR COMBINATION THEREOF). DURING THE FLIGHT THE AIRCRAFT WAS FLOWN DOWN A CANYON WHICH THE INSTRUCTOR HAD FLOWN DOWN PREVIOUSLY. AS THE AIRCRAFT APPROACHED TRANSMISSION LINES SPANNING THE CANYON THE AIRCRAFT ENTERED AN UNEXPLAINED ABRUPT NOSE DOWN MANEUVER. THE PILOT IN COMMAND DID NOT/WAS UNABLE TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE CLEARANCE WITH THE LINES AND COLLISION FOLLOWED. THE AIRCRAFT THEN DESCENDED OUT OF CONTROL TO THE BASE OF THE CANYON.
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: single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,050 hours in all; 185 in this make and model; 236 in the last 90 days; 84 in the last 30 days; 970 as pilot in command; 695 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,096 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 24, 1986; 94 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,600 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-200A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 1S0 Puyallup WA at 8:51 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 260° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 4,000 ft
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 43°F (6°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 9:57 pm from TCM, 18 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.
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.