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LAX85LA346

1985-08-09 · SANTA PAULA, California, United States · Minor · 1 aircraft · Status: Completed

Airport SZP

Current FAA registration · N3359V

Make / Model
CESSNA 150M
Year of manufacture
1974 · 11 years old at event
Engine
CONT MOTOR 0-200 SERIES (100 hp)
Seats / Engines
2 seats · 1 engine
Last airworthiness date
19741217
ADS-B equipped
Yes — Mode-S A3AC09

Source: FAA Aircraft Registry (releasable master file).

Aircraft involved

Factual narrative

THE CFI, WHO WAS A RETIRED AIRLINE CAPTAIN, AND HIS STUDENT PILOT, EMBARKED ON A ROUND-ROBIN FLIGHT WHICH INCLUDED LANDINGS AT FOUR ARPTS. THE FUEL TANKS WERE NOT COMPLETELY FILLED PRIOR TO TH INITIAL DEPARTURE AND NO ADDITIONAL FUEL WAS OBTAINED DURING THE 2.4 HOUR LONG FLIGHT. FUEL EXHAUSTION OCCURRED AT TRAFFIC PATTERN ALT, ONE MILE FROM THE DESTINATION ARPT. THE CFI WAS UNABLE TO REACH THE RWY AND LANDED IN A SANDY RIVER BED 200 YARDS FROM THE ARPT. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_1985_LAX85LA346.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.