Cessna 150 accident near Columbia City, Indiana, May 21, 1986
On May 21, 1986 at about 1:10 am local time, a Cessna 150, registered N6612G, was substantially damaged in an accident near Columbia City, Indiana. 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 instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 21, 1986 · about 1:10 am local time
- Place
- Columbia City, Indiana · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 150 · all 150s on the register
- Registration
- N6612G · no longer on the register · serial 15072112
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT HAD BECOME DISORIENTED AND WAS CONCERNED ABOUT HIS LOW FUEL STATE WHEN HE DECIDED TO MAKE A PRECAUTIONARY LANDING. THE WEATHER WAS DETERIORATING AND IT WAS GETTING DARK ALTHOUGH THE PILOT STATED HE COULD DISTINGUISH THE TREES FROM THE GROUND. HE MADE AN APPROACH TO A DIRT FIELD AND SUBSEQUENTLY FLEW THE AIRCRAFT INTO THE GROUND. THE PILOT STATED HE MADE NO ATTEMPT TO FLARE BECAUSE HE DID NOT SEE THE GROUND PIOR TO IMPACT.
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: 165 hours in all; 125 in this make and model; 43 in the last 90 days; 120 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 22, 1985
- Maximum gross weight: 1,600 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-200-A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: LEX Lexington KY at 10:45 pm
- Destination: 2C7 Columbia City IN
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: dusk
- Wind: from 300° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 2 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 500 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 46°F (8°C), dew point 46°F (8°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
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.