Cessna 150M accident near Marion, Indiana, April 9, 2004
On April 9, 2004 at about 7:15 pm local time, a Cessna 150M, registered N6160K, was substantially damaged in an accident near Marion, Indiana (Marion Muni airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's inadequate preflight planning/decision to ensure adequate takeoff performance by the improper use of flaps and failure to establish the aircraft was within weight and balance limitations.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 9, 2004 · about 7:15 pm local time
- Place
- Marion, Indiana · Marion Muni · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 150M · all 150Ms on the register
- Registration
- N6160K · no longer on the register · serial 15077561
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airplane, operated as an instructional flight, impacted terrain during initial climb over runway 33 with 20 degrees of flaps. The airplane's Pilot's Operating Handbook states the flaps are to be retracted for best angle and rate of climb. The airplane was witnessed to have descended into the ground in a nose low attitude resulting in damage and a wreckage distribution consistent with a stall. The flight instructor sustained a two inch laceration above his left eye and reported head pain; he was not using his available shoulder harness. The student pilot stated that a weight and balance was not performed for the flight. According to weight and balance information and reported weights, the airplane's takeoff weight exceeded the gross weight of the airplane. The Aviation Instructor's Handbook, states a flight instructor must carefully observe all regulations and recognized safety practices during all flight operations and such habits make the instructor more effective by encouraging students to develop similar habits.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 600 hours in all; 20 in this make and model; 20 in the last 90 days; 15 in the last 30 days; 495 as pilot in command; 230 on instruments
- Last flight review: June 15, 2004
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: minor injuries
Dual student
- Certificate: student
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-200 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: MZZ Marion IN at 6:15 pm
- Destination: MZZ
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 33, 3,596 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 280° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 32°F (0°C)
- Altimeter: 30.01 inHg
- Observation at 7:15 pm from OKK, 17 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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.