Cessna 150F accident near Ft. Wayne, Indiana, July 10, 2002
On July 10, 2002 at about 11:00 pm local time, a Cessna 150F, registered N8798S, was substantially damaged in an accident near Ft. Wayne, Indiana (Fort Wayne International airport). It was a personal 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 corroded throttle cable resulting in a loss of engine power. Factors were the inadequate annual inspection, the unsuitable terrain encountered during the forced landing, the ditch, and the fence.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 10, 2002 · about 11:00 pm local time
- Place
- Ft. Wayne, Indiana · Fort Wayne International · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 150F · all 150Fs on the register
- Registration
- N8798S · no longer on the register · serial 15062098
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airplane was damaged during a forced landing after a loss of engine power during climb after takeoff. The airplane went through a ditch and struck a fence during the forced landing attempt. The pilot was attempting to return to the departure airport for a landing opposite the direction of takeoff. A postaccident examination of the airplane revealed that the throttle cable housing was corroded through where the cable passes over the battery. Additionally, an examination of the fuel system revealed traces of water in the gascolator bowl. No other anomalies were found. The airplane had received an annual inspection on April 13, 2002.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 620 hours in all; 133 in this make and model; 30 in the last 90 days; 11 in the last 30 days; 539 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: August 25, 2001
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,505.2 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 13, 2002; 12.5 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,600 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-200 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: FWA Ft. Wayne IN at 11:00 pm
- Destination: 1IN3 Arcola IN
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 090° at 13 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 25,000 ft; clear
- Temperature: 77°F (25°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
- Altimeter: 30.12 inHg
- Observation at 10:54 pm from KFWA
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.