Cessna 150D accident near Park City, Utah, September 16, 1990
On September 16, 1990 at about 3:30 pm local time, a Cessna 150D, registered N4183U, was substantially damaged in an accident near Park City, Utah. It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S LACK OF UNDERSTANDING OF AIRCRAFT PERFORMANCE AND METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS WHEN FLYING AT HIGH DENSITY ALTITUDE IN CLOSE PROXIMITY TO MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 16, 1990 · about 3:30 pm local time
- Place
- Park City, Utah · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 150D · all 150Ds on the register
- Registration
- N4183U · no longer on the register · serial 15060183
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE STUDENT PILOT ENCOUNTERED STRONG UPDRAFTS AND DOWNDRAFTS WHEN CROSSING A RIDGE AT HIGH ALTITUDE IN THE VICINITY OF HIS FAMILY'S CABIN. DUE TO HIGH DENSITY ALTITUDE AND LACK OF CLIMB PERFORMANCE OF THE CESSNA 150D AT SUCH ALTITUDES, HE WAS UNABLE TO SUSTAIN ALTITUDE, AND CRASHED AT APPROXIMATELY 9000 FEET MSL.
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: 20 hours in all; 20 in this make and model; 20 in the last 90 days; 18 in the last 30 days; 6 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,600 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-200A (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: High Valley Aviation
The flight
- Departed from: 36U Heber City UT at 2:10 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 270° at 20 knots
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; not recorded
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°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.
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.