Cessna 150 accident near Wash Courthouse, Ohio, September 18, 1989
On September 18, 1989 at about 8:10 pm local time, a Cessna 150, registered N6172K, was substantially damaged in an accident near Wash Courthouse, Ohio (Fayette County airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
IMPROPER FLARE BY THE STUDENT PILOT. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: THE STUDENT'S SELECTION OF THE WRONG RUNWAY, AND THE TAILWIND.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 18, 1989 · about 8:10 pm local time
- Place
- Wash Courthouse, Ohio · Fayette County · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 150 · all 150s on the register
- Registration
- N6172K · no longer on the register · serial 15077569
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING A X-COUNTRY FLT, THE STUDENT PLT ENTERED TRAFFIC FOR RWY 22 AT AN INTERMEDIATE ARPT. THE WIND IN THE AREA WAS RPRTD TO BE FROM 060 DEG AT 10 KTS. HE RPRTD THAT ON FINAL APCH, THE ACFT WAS HIGH & THAT HE EXTENDED FULL FLAPS WHEN HE SAW HE 'HAD THE RUNWAY MADE.' ACCORDING TO A WITNESS, THE ACFT WAS FLARED HIGH, THEN IT PITCHED NOSE DOWN. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE NOSE GEAR COLLAPSED & THE PROP STRUCK THE RWY.
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: student
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 38 hours in all; 38 in this make and model; 38 in the last 90 days; 21 in the last 30 days; 7 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 1,600 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-200 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: LUK Cincinnati OH at 7:00 pm
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 22, 4,800 ft by 75 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 060° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 4,500 ft
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 54°F (12°C)
- Observation at 7:50 pm from DAY
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.