Cessna 150L accident near Sisters, Oregon, October 20, 1992
On October 20, 1992 at about 9:00 pm local time, a Cessna 150L, registered N19092, was substantially damaged in an accident near Sisters, Oregon. It was a personal 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
THE PILOT'S POOR INFLIGHT DECISION. FACTORS INCLUDE MOUNTAINOUS/HILLY TERRAIN, TREES, HIGH DENSITY ALTITUDE, AND DOWNDRAFTS.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 20, 1992 · about 9:00 pm local time
- Place
- Sisters, Oregon · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 150L · all 150Ls on the register
- Registration
- N19092 · no longer on the register · serial 15074262
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT OF THE RENTED CESSNA 150 MADE A NUMBER OF PASSES OVER THE ELK HUNTING CAMP IN AN AREA WERE THE DENSITY ALTITUDE WAS OVER 7000 FEET. HE REPORTED THAT, ALTHOUGH THERE WAS VERY LITTLE TURBULENCE IN THE AREA, THE WINDS MUST HAVE BEEN FAIRLY STRONG BECAUSE THE GROUNDSPEED OF THE AIRCRAFT WAS SIGNIFICANTLY DIFFERENT ON EACH PASS, DEPENDING ON THE DIRECTION THE AIRCRAFT WAS HEADING. ON THE LAST PASS, THE PILOT ADDED POWER BUT WAS UNABLE TO OUTCLIMB THE RISING TERRAIN. HE REPORTED THAT THE ENGINE SEEMED TO BE RUNNING FINE, BUT THE AIRCRAFT WAS DESCENDING AT 800 FEET PER MINUTE WHILE AT FULL POWER.
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: 81 hours in all; 7 in the last 90 days; 7 in the last 30 days; 31 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,414 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 5, 1992; 76 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,600 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-200-A (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Butler Aircraft Company INC.
The flight
- Departed from: RDM Redmond OR at 7:32 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 220° at 10 knots, gusting 15
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 11,000 ft; scat at 8,000 ft
- Temperature: 66°F (19°C), dew point 39°F (4°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 9:00 pm from RDM, 35 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 N19092 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.