Cessna 150F accident near Bellbrook, Ohio, August 23, 1988
On August 23, 1988, a Cessna 150F, registered N8660G, was destroyed in an accident near Bellbrook, Ohio. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
FAILURE OF THE PIC TO MAINTAIN SUFFICIENT AIRSPEED TO SUSTAIN FLIGHT DURING INITIAL CLIMB TO CLEAR A BARRIER AFTER TAKING OFF FROM AN OFF AIRPORT AREA.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 23, 1988
- Place
- Bellbrook, Ohio · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 150F · all 150Fs on the register
- Registration
- N8660G · no longer on the register · serial 15062760
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
A WITNESS RPRTD THE PLT/OWNER MADE AN OFF-ARPT LANDING. THE WITNESS SAID HE WENT TO THE ACFT WHILE THE ENG WAS STILL RUNNING & TALKED TO THE PLT. THE PLT TOLD THE WITNESS THAT THE ENG WAS OVERHEATING, SO HE (THE PLT) DECIDED TO LAND IN THE FIELD TO LET THE ENG COOL DOWN. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE PLT INITIATED A TAKEOFF. HOWEVER, SHORTLY AFTER LIFT-OFF, WHILE ATTEMPTING TO CLIMB OVER TREES, THE ACFT ENTERED A STEEP DESCENT & CRASHED IN A NOSE DOWN ATTITUDE. THE ACFT CAME TO REST ON ITS NOSE WITH NO MOVEMENT AFTER IMPACT. AN EXAM OF THE ACFT & ENG REVEALED NO MECHANICAL DEFECTS & NO EVIDENCE OF OVERHEATING. THE LAST ANNUAL INSPECTION OF THE ACFT WAS DATED 8/4/86.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 500 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,598 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 4, 1986
- Maximum gross weight: 1,600 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-200-A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 40I Waynesville OH
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 100° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 25,000 ft; scat at 14,000 ft
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 50°F (10°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 11:50 pm from DAY
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.