Cessna 150M accident near Austin, Indiana, March 25, 2007
On March 25, 2007 at about 9:24 pm local time, a Cessna 150M, registered N66673, was substantially damaged in an accident near Austin, Indiana (Private Airstip airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's improper preflight planning/preparation, and his failure to abort the takeoff. Contributing factors were a tailwind and a short runway.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 25, 2007 · about 9:24 pm local time
- Place
- Austin, Indiana · Private Airstip · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 150M · all 150Ms on the register
- Registration
- N66673 · no longer on the register · serial 15076199
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airplane impacted trees and a house following a tailwind takeoff from a short (1,161 feet) grass runway at near gross weight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. No mechanical anomalies were noted that would have precluded normal operation. Due to the increased rolling friction associated with a grass runway, the tailwind, and the short runway, the airplane lacked sufficient takeoff distance to clear the obstructions. Had the pilot carefully reviewed the preceding items during his preflight planning/preparations, he would have realized it was not advisable to attempt a takeoff.
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: 483 hours in all; 72 in this make and model; 483 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: June 1, 2005
- Medical certificate: Class 3
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,415.9 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 1, 2006
- 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: Austin IN at 9:24 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 090, 1,161 ft by 58 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 240° at 14 knots, gusting 17
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 50°F (10°C)
- Altimeter: 30.20 inHg
- Observation at 8:53 pm from BMG, 30 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.