Cessna 150M accident near Sellersburg, Indiana, January 11, 2009
On January 11, 2009 at about 6:45 pm local time, a Cessna 150M, registered N778ME, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff near Sellersburg, Indiana (Clark Regional Airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The student pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed during takeoff, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall at a low altitude. An additional cause was the flight instructor's delayed remedial action.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 11, 2009 · about 6:45 pm local time
- Place
- Sellersburg, Indiana · Clark Regional Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 150M · all 150Ms on the register
- Registration
- N778ME · no longer on the register · serial 15078703
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The accident occurred during the student pilot's initial takeoff on an instructional flight. The flight instructor reported that shortly after liftoff the airplane turned slightly into the wind before entering an aerodynamic stall out of ground effect. The flight instructor immediately assumed control of the airplane and attempted to recover from the stalled condition. The airplane impacted the runway nose first and then bounced several times before coming to rest. The engine firewall, engine mounts, nose landing gear, lower cowling, and propeller were damaged.
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
What happened, in order
- Loss of control in flight during takeoff defining event
- Aerodynamic stall/spin during takeoff
- Attempted remediation/recovery during takeoff
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during takeoff
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Airspeed › Not attained/maintained
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Delayed action › Instructor/check pilot
Flight instructor
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 493 hours in all; 6 in this make and model; 93 in the last 90 days; 9 in the last 30 days; 417 as pilot in command; 199 on instruments
- Last flight review: August 11, 2008
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
Dual student
- Certificate: student
- Flight time: 12 hours in all; 7 in this make and model; 1 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,167.3 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 19, 2008
- Maximum gross weight: 1,600 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-200A (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Hap'S Aerial Enterprises, INC.
The flight
- Departed from: KJVY Sellersburg IN at 6:45 pm
- Destination: KJVY Sellersburg IN
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 18, 5,500 ft by 100 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 240° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 2,300 ft
- Temperature: 30°F (-1°C), dew point 21°F (-6°C)
- Altimeter: 30.13 inHg
- Observation at 6:53 pm from KLOU, 10 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 |
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.