Cessna 150L accident near Perris, California, December 25, 2017
On December 25, 2017 at about 9:25 pm local time, a 1970 Cessna 150L, registered N6627G, was substantially damaged in an accident during enroute (cruise) near Perris, California. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The presence of debris in the carburetor and blockage of the fuel delivery system, which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to fuel starvation. Contributing to the accident was the lack of maintenance to the carburetor.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 25, 2017 · about 9:25 pm local time
- Place
- Perris, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 150L M, built 1970 · all 150Ls on the register
- Registration
- N6627G · registry record · serial 15072127
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
Twenty-five minutes into the cross-country flight, the airplane's engine lost total power. After an unsuccessful attempt to restart the engine, the pilot declared an emergency and selected a forced landing site. The airplane touched down on the soft terrain, nosed over, and came to rest inverted, resulting in substantial damage to the engine firewall, engine mounts, and empennage. Postaccident examination revealed that the fuel drain plug was blocked, and debris was found in the carburetor fuel bowl, both of which likely obstructed the fuel delivery system. This obstruction would have inhibited fuel flow to the engine and resulted in a loss of power. The fuel filters at the wing roots, fuel strainer, and carburetor fuel inlet were not obstructed, but may have been cleaned during the airplane's most recent annual inspection, which took place 47 flight hours before the accident. The carburetor had not been overhauled or inspected in its history of service.
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
- Fuel starvation during enroute (cruise)
- Loss of engine power (total) during enroute (cruise)
- Nose over/nose down during landing (flare/touchdown)
- Fuel related during enroute (cruise) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Maintenance › Scheduled/routine maintenance › Maintenance personnel
- Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Engine fuel and control › Fuel control/carburetor › Not serviced/maintained
- Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware › Fluids › Fuel › Fluid management
- Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware › Fluids › Fuel › Fluid condition
- Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Engine fuel and control › Fuel distribution › Damaged/degraded
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 195 hours in all; 195 in this make and model; 12 in the last 90 days; 3 in the last 30 days; 150 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: June 30, 2016
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,981 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 3, 2017; 47 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,601 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental Motors O-200-A48 (piston); 3,031 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: EMT El Monte CA at 8:00 pm
- Destination: F70 Murrieta/Temecu CA
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 160° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 68°F (20°C), dew point 1°F (-17°C)
- Altimeter: 30.06 inHg
- Observation at 9:58 pm from RIV, 10 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
9 documents, released by the NTSB on January 4, 2021. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Weather Reports and Records | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Record of Conversations | PDF, 4 pages | View Download |
| 4 | NTSB Examination Report | PDF, 3 pages | View Download |
| 5 | Federal Aviation Administration - Carburetor Examination Report | PDF, 4 pages | View Download |
| 6 | Aircraft Logbook | PDF, 6 pages | View Download |
| 7 | Engine Logbook | PDF, 11 pages | View Download |
| 8 | Statement of Party Representatives to NTSB Investigation | PDF, 4 pages | View Download |
| 9 | Accident Photographs | PDF, 7 pages | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.