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Atlas / NTSB / LAX85LA346

NTSB CAROL · Event

Event LAX85LA346

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

Registry · N3359V

FAA Aircraft Registry record.

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

Registrant of record

ARCHER LEE R

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 ↗.