Cessna 150H accident near Sullivan, Indiana, January 19, 1990
On January 19, 1990 at about 4:00 pm local time, a Cessna 150H, registered N50292, was substantially damaged in an accident near Sullivan, Indiana (Sullivan County airport). It was an instructional 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 STUDENT PILOT'S INADEQUATE COMPENSATION FOR THE WIND GUST AND LACK OF TOTAL EXPERIENCE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 19, 1990 · about 4:00 pm local time
- Place
- Sullivan, Indiana · Sullivan County · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 150H · all 150Hs on the register
- Registration
- N50292 · registry record · serial 15069201
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE STUDENT PILOT WHO WAS ATTEMPTING TO TAKEOFF WITH A STRONG CROSSWIND ELECTED TO ABORT. AS SHE RELAXED AILERON CORRECTION THE AIRPLANE DEPARTED THE RUNWAY, ENTERED A NEIGHBORING CORN FIELD, AND NOSED OVER INVERTED.
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
- Flight time: 36 hours in all; 30 in this make and model; 28 in the last 90 days; 8 in the last 30 days; 2 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,241 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 4, 1989; 90 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,600 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-200-A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SIV at 4:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 18, 3,560 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 100° at 10 knots, gusting 10
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 25,000 ft; clear
- Temperature: 34°F (1°C), dew point 25°F (-4°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 3:00 pm from HUF, 21 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.