Cessna 150L accident near Bowling Green, Ohio, April 1, 1989
On April 1, 1989 at about 8:50 pm local time, a Cessna 150L, registered N1044Z, was substantially damaged in an accident near Bowling Green, Ohio (Wood County airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE STUDENT PILOT FAILED TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT WHEN HE MISJUDGED THE HEIGHT OF THE LANDING FLARE. THE RECOVERY FROM THE BOUNCED LANDING WAS INADEQUATE AND THE NOSE GEAR COLLAPSED UPON IMPACT WITH THE RUNWAY.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 1, 1989 · about 8:50 pm local time
- Place
- Bowling Green, Ohio · Wood County · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 150L · all 150Ls on the register
- Registration
- N1044Z · no longer on the register · serial 15075525
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING HIS THIRD SUPERVISED SOLO FLIGHT, THE STUDENT PILOT WAS REMAINING IN CLOSED TRAFFIC FOR TAKEOFF AND LANDING PRACTICE. ON THE FOURTH LANDING, THE STUDENT REPORTED THAT HE WAS JUST ABOUT READY TO FLARE WHEN HE FELT THE AIRPLANE SINK. HE ADDED POWER AND THE AIRPLANE HIT THE RUNWAY AND BOUNCED. DURING THE SECOND TOUCHDOWN, THE NOSE GEAR COLLAPSED AND THE AIRPLANE SLID TO A STOP ON ITS MAIN GEAR AND NOSE SECTION. THE LOCAL WIND WAS NEARLY ALIGNEDWITH THE RUNWAY AT ABOUT 6 KNOTS. WX DATA LISTED ABOVE WAS FROM AN OBSERVATION AT A WX REPORTING STATION 15 MILES FROM THE ACCIDENT SITE.
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: student
- Flight time: 14 hours in all; 14 in this make and model; 14 in the last 90 days; 5 in the last 30 days; 3 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 1,600 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-200-A (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Airborne Aviation, INC.
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 27, 4,200 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 240° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 25,000 ft; scat at 5,000 ft
- Temperature: 46°F (8°C), dew point 27°F (-3°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 8:50 pm from TOL, 15 miles away
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.