Cessna 150J N61315

Summary

On 1 April 1989 at about 19:15 local time, a Cessna 150J registered N61315, operated by Desert Air ADS, was involved in an accident near Bermuda Dunes, California, United States. One person was on board and one had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

1 April 1989 at 19:15

Classification

Accident

Location

Bermuda Dunes, California, United States

Coordinates

33.7102, -116.2303

Aircraft

Cessna 150J

Registration

N61315

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Desert Air ADS

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Business

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Bermuda Dunes → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

LAX89LA143

1 person had minor injuries.

IMPROPER ASSISTANCE BY GROUND PERSONNEL WHO INADVERTENTLY OVERLOADED THE AIRPLANE AND THE PILOT'S DELAY IN JETTISONING THE LOAD.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

DURING A BANNER TOW OPERATION, TWO BANNERS WERE SET ON THE GROUND FOR PICKUP. JUST PRIOR TO PICKUP BY ONE OF THE AIRPLANES, A GUST OF WIND BLEW ONE BANNER ON TOP OF THE OTHER . THE AIRPLANE PICKED UP BOTH BANNERS WITHOUT THE PILOT KNOWING. THE GROUND PERSONNEL NOTIFIED THE PILOT WHO STARTED A TURN BACK TO THE AIRPORT TO RELEASE THE BANNERS. HOWEVER, THE PILOT COULD NOT MAINTAIN ALTITUDE. THE PILOT RELEASED THE BANNERS AT LOW ALTITUDE AND SPEED AND WAS UNABLE TO CLIMB. THE PILOT OPTED TO LAND THE AIRPLANE IN AN OPEN FIELD. DURING THE LANDING ROLL, THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH A FENCE AND NOSED OVER.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.