Cessna 150M accident near Carrollton, Ohio, October 29, 1989
On October 29, 1989 at about 8:45 pm local time, a Cessna 150M, registered N66538, was destroyed in an accident near Carrollton, Ohio. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT FAILED TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE AIRSPEED WHILE MANEUVERING, WHICH LED TO AN INADVERTENT STALL/SPIN. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WERE THE PILOT'S APPARENT DESIRE TO SHOW OFF, AND THE LOW ALTITUDE AT WHICH HE CHOSE TO PERFORM THE MANEUVER.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 29, 1989 · about 8:45 pm local time
- Place
- Carrollton, Ohio · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 150M · all 150Ms on the register
- Registration
- N66538 · no longer on the register · serial 15076107
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WITNESSES REPORTED THAT THE PILOT WAS PERFORMING UP AND DOWN 'ROLLER COASTER' MANEUVERS AT LOW ALTITUDE WHEN THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED. DURING THE CLIMB PORTION OF ONE OF THE MANEUVERS, THE AIRPLANE SUDDENLY ROLLED SHARPLY TO ONE SIDE AND ENTERED A SPIN. THE AIRPLANE SUBSEQUENTLY CRASHED IN AN OPEN FIELD AND BURNED. ACCORDING TO WITNESSES, THE AIRPLANE WAS ONLY 100 TO 200 FT AGL, WHEN THE PILOT INITIATED THE MANEUVERS. TWO WITNESSES NOTED THAT THE PILOT HAD PERFORMED THE 'ROLLER COASTER' MANEUVERS ON PREVIOUS OCCASIONS. POST-CRASH EXAMINATION OF THE WRECKAGE REVEALED NO EVIDENCE OF ANY PRE-EXISTING MECHANICAL FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION. POST-MORTEM EXAMINATION OF THE PILOT REVEALED NOTHING THAT COULD BE CAUSALLY RELATED TO THE MISHAP.
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: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 1,250 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ 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
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: NONE Carrollton OH at 8:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 050° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Temperature: 57°F (14°C), dew point 36°F (2°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 8:50 pm from CAK, 28 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.