Sierra Sky Park Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Fresno, California 93727
Friday, December 14, 1990 10:30 PST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE NON-INSTRUMENT RATED PILOT WAS ATTEMPTING TO FLY UNDER VISUAL FLIGHT RULES. THE WEATHER, AT THE AIRPORT OF DEPARTURE, WAS BELOW MINIMUMS REQUIRED FOR FLIGHT UNDER VISUAL RULES. THE AIRCRAFT WAS REPORTED MISSING BY FAMILY MEMBERS THE DAY AFTER THE AIRCRAFT TOOK OFF. AFTER A LENGTHY SEARCH BY CIVIL AIR PATROL PERSONNEL, THE AIRCRAFT'S WRECKAGE WAS FOUND IN A POND NEAR THE AIRPORT OF DEPARTURE.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THE PILOTS INTENTIONAL FLIGHT INTO KNOWN ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS AND HIS FAILURE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT. FACTORS IN THE ACCIDENT WERE: THE FOGGY WEATHER CONDITIONS; SPATIAL DISORIENTATION; AND THE PILOT'S OVER CONFIDENCE IN HIS OWN PERSONAL ABILITY.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 12/14/1990
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 1030
Event Time Zone Pacific Standard Time
Event City FRESNO
Event State CALIFORNIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 93727
Event Date Year 1990
Event Date Month 12
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport SIERRA SKY PARK
Event Location Nearest Airport ID Q60
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation 321
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1110 Pacific Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 108
Weather Observation Facility ID FAT
Elevation of weather observation facility 332
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 10
Time Zone of the weather observation PST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Unknown
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Obscured
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 0
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) -18
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -18
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 0
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 0
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
Density Altitude (feet) 0
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Fatal
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal 1
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 2275
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Dec 16 1990 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1200
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 44631
Date of most recent change to record Dec 18 2002 11:28AM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\GIUV
Basic weather conditions Instrument Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N4651X
NTSB Number LAX91LA055
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Destroyed
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name CESSNA
Aircraft Model 150G
Aircraft Series Identifier 150G
Aircraft Serial Number 15064701
Certified Max Gross Weight 1600
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 2
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Unknown
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection 0
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name
Aircraft Owner Street Address
Aircraft Owner City
Aircraft Owner State
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name OWENS, BRUCE H.
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 7178 N. FRUIT STE #112
Operator City FRESNO
Operator State CA
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 93711
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code Q60
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 1028
Departure Time Zone PST
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code HWD
Destination City HAYWARD
Destination State CA
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Climb
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:35AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 30
Runway Length 2920
Runway Width 50
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --