Cessna 150M accident near Knoxville, Tennessee, June 17, 1989
On June 17, 1989 at about 9:13 pm local time, a Cessna 150M, registered N714SR, was substantially damaged in an accident near Knoxville, Tennessee (Downtown Island airport). It was an instructional 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 FAILURE TO RECOGNIZE THAT THE ENGINE WAS NOT DEVELOPING FULL POWER AND THE DELAY IN PERFORMING REMEDIAL ACTION UNTIL IT WAS TOO LATE TO STOP THE AIRPLANE ON THE RUNWAY.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 17, 1989 · about 9:13 pm local time
- Place
- Knoxville, Tennessee · Downtown Island
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 150M · all 150Ms on the register
- Registration
- N714SR · registry record · serial 15079402
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE STUDENT WAS MAKING A PRACTICE SOLO FLIGHT TO PREPARE FOR HER PRIVATE PILOT CERTIFICATION TEST THE FOLLOWING WEEK. AFTER AN ENGINE RUNUP WHICH RESULTED IN AN EXCESSIVE MAG DROP ON THE FIRST ATTEMPT, SHE ATTEMPTED A TAKEOFF ON RUNWAY 26. SHE HAD USED UP ABOUT HALF OF THE 3,500 FT RWY BEFORE THE AIRSPEED INDICATOR FURNISHED A READING. THE READING DID NOT GET ABOVE 40 MPH DURING THE TAKEOFF RUN. THE ENGINE STARTED RUNNING ROUGH AND SHE DECIDED TO ABORT THE TAKEOFF. THE AIRPLANE VEERED LEFT OFF THE RUNWAY, 183 FEET FROM THE END. IT CONTINUED OVER THE GRASS SURFACE AND INTO THE RIVER/LAKE SURROUNDING THE AIRPORT. THE SKID MARKS FROM THE APPLICATION OF THE MAIN WHEEL BRAKES BEGAN 215 FEET FROM THE END OF THE RUNWAY. THE THROTTLE WAS FOUND IN THE CLOSED POSITION. THE EXHAUST VALVE FOR THE NUMBER FOUR CYLINDER WAS FOUND STUCK IN THE OPEN POSITION. INSPECTION REVEALED THE AIRPLANE WAS 10 HOURS PAST DUE OF IT'S 100 HOUR INSPECTION.
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: 55 hours in all; 20 in this make and model; 20 in the last 90 days; 13 in the last 30 days; 25 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 1,600 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-200 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: DKX at 9:13 pm
- Destination: DKX
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 26, 3,500 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 220° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 4,000 ft
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 57°F (14°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 8:50 pm from TYS, 10 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.