Cessna 150M accident near Panama City, Florida, June 16, 2005
On June 16, 2005 at about 7:45 pm local time, a Cessna 150M, registered N45372, was substantially damaged in an accident near Panama City, Florida (Panama City - Bay County Int'L airport). It was an other work-use flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's misjudgment of distance/altitude while on final approach with a tailwind, which resulted in an undershoot of the runway.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 16, 2005 · about 7:45 pm local time
- Place
- Panama City, Florida · Panama City - Bay County Int'L · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 150M · all 150Ms on the register
- Registration
- N45372 · no longer on the register · serial 15076882
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Other work-use flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot had completed a banner drop and was cleared to land on runway 5. The pilot stated that, while on final approach, "I noticed a large downdraft. I responded with full power and initiated a go-around." The pilot stated the airplane continued to descend, and it collided with the ground approximately 100 feet short of the runway and nosed over. The pilot reported no mechanical malfunction with the airplane. A review of recorded weather data from the airport's automated surface observing system revealed at 1453 conditions were winds from 260 degrees at 10 knots, visibility 10 statute miles, skies clear, temperature 33 degrees centigrade, dew point 22 degrees centigrade, altimeter setting 29.80 inches Hg. Meteorological review of upper wind data, Doppler Weather Radar images, and GOES-12 satellite images showed no significant weather.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,018 hours in all; 64 in this make and model
- Last flight review: December 14, 2004
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,955.9 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 25, 2005; 62.2 hours since
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: KPFN Panama City FL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 5, 4,884 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 260° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Temperature: 91°F (33°C), dew point 72°F (22°C)
- Altimeter: 29.79 inHg
- Observation at 7:53 pm from KPFN
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.