Cessna 150J accident near Mariposa, CA
On February 6, 1999, a Cessna 150J (airplane) was involved in an accident near Mariposa, CA. 1 person died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.
- Date
- February 6, 1999
- Place
- Mariposa, CA
- Aircraft
- Cessna 150J · Airplane
- Injuries
- 1 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Position
- 37.489°N, 120.001°W
- NTSB ID
- 20001205X00177
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHT On February 5, 1999, between 2016 and 2124 hours Pacific standard time, a Cessna 150J, N50878, owned and operated by the pilot, collided with trees and terrain approaching the uncontrolled Mariposa-Yosemite Airport, Mariposa, California. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed during the dark nighttime, personal flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91, and no flight plan was filed. The airplane was destroyed, and the private pilot was fatally injured. The flight originated at the Castle Airport, Merced, California, at an uncertain time. The distance between the Castle and Mariposa airports is about 26 nautical miles. For the purposes of data entry in this accident report, the National Transportation Safety Board investigator estimated the airplane's departure time at 1945. The pilot's wife reported to the Safety Board investigator that during the evening of February 5, she had spoken with her husband via telephone. The pilot had indicated that the following day (which was his birthday) he planned to fly from his temporary Atwater residence to their Mariposa home. The wife indicated that her husband was emotionally upset, and during a subsequent conversation with him he indicated his intention to immediately fly home. The pilot's route of flight between Castle and Mariposa was not determined. The first reported contact with the accident airplane occurred between 2010 and 2015. During this time period, a pilot flying in a Cessna 182 departed from the Mariposa Airport. The pilot of this airplane subsequently reported to the Safety Board investigator that dur
Probable cause
The pilot's premature descent into terrain during a dark nighttime approach. Also causal was his physiological impairment due to alcohol. A contributing factor was his psychological condition.
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Browse: California · Cessna aircraft
Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.
