Morrisey 2150 accident near Pismo Beach, California, January 14, 2014
On January 14, 2014 at about 9:52 pm local time, a 1958 Morrisey 2150, registered N5102V, was destroyed in an accident during enroute (cruise) near Pismo Beach, California. 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 in-flight separation of a wing for reasons that could not be determined because the wreckage was not recovered from the ocean.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 14, 2014 · about 9:52 pm local time
- Place
- Pismo Beach, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Morrisey 2150, built 1958 · all 2150s on the register
- Registration
- N5102V · no longer on the register · serial FP-2
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
Radar data indicated that the airplane took off, performed a touch-and-go landing, and departed westbound toward the ocean. After crossing the shoreline, the airplane turned right about 90 degrees and flew northbound over the water. The airplane climbed to an altitude of about 4,300 feet and then descended to 3,700 feet. The last three radar hits were recorded over a period of 14 seconds and indicated that the airplane entered a steep descent at a rate that exceeded 10,000 feet per minute before it impacted the water. One witness reported that she saw a "streak" descending toward the water followed by a "big bang." Another witness reported observing the airplane falling toward the water with what "appeared to be a wing" trailing behind it. He estimated that the airplane and the separated wing fell for about 10 seconds before they hit the water. The airplane wreckage was not recovered.
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
What happened, in order
- Part(s) separation from AC during enroute (cruise) defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during uncontrolled descent
The NTSB's findings
- cause Not determined › Not determined › (general) › (general) › Unknown/Not determined
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor, commercial pilot, flight engineer
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 25,000 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: fatal
Pilot-Rated Passenger
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 9,000 hours in all
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: rear
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,367 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 5, 2014
- Maximum gross weight: 1,817 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-A2A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SMX Santa Maria CA at 9:34 pm
- Destination: SMX Santa Maria CA
- Flight plan: none
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 330° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 16°F (-9°C)
- Altimeter: 30.26 inHg
- Observation at 9:51 pm from SMX, 15 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight 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.