Cessna 120 accident near Shelbyville, Indiana, September 16, 1989
On September 16, 1989 at about 12:30 pm local time, a Cessna 120, registered N1844N, was substantially damaged in an accident near Shelbyville, Indiana (Solenberg 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 PILOT FAILED TO MAINTAIN PROPER ALIGNMENT DURING THE LANDING ROLL.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 16, 1989 · about 12:30 pm local time
- Place
- Shelbyville, Indiana · Solenberg
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 120 · all 120s on the register
- Registration
- N1844N · registry record · serial 12088
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 934 hours in all; 72 in this make and model; 41 in the last 90 days; 24 in the last 30 days; 830 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,057 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 17, 1988; 62 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,450 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental C-85-12F (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 35M Shelbyville IN at 12:25 pm
- Destination: II97 Shelbyville IN
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 35, 2,000 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 360° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 1,800 ft; scat at 600 ft
- Temperature: 57°F (14°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 11:53 am from IND, 35 miles away
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.