Cessna 150M accident near Indianapolis, Indiana, March 25, 1990
On March 25, 1990 at about 7:00 pm local time, a Cessna 150M, registered N66258, was substantially damaged in an accident near Indianapolis, Indiana (Eagle Creek Airpark 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
FAILURE OF PILOT-IN-COMMAND TO ADEQUATELY COMPENSATE FOR WIND CONDITIONS WHICH RESULTED IN A LOSS OF AIRCRAFT CONTROL. THE UNFAVORABLE WIND CONDITIONS (WINDSHEAR, CROSSWIND & TURBULENCE) WERE RELATED FACTORS.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 25, 1990 · about 7:00 pm local time
- Place
- Indianapolis, Indiana · Eagle Creek Airpark
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 150M · all 150Ms on the register
- Registration
- N66258 · no longer on the register · serial 15075961
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT MADE AN APCH TO LAND ON RWY 21 WITH WINDS FROM THE WNW AT ABOUT 10 KTS. HE STATED A X-WIND WAS BLOWING OVER A LAKE & SOME TREES ON THE WEST SIDE OF THE RWY. DURING THE FLARE, THE ACFT ENCTRD TURBULENCE & THE PLT LOST CONTROL OF THE PLANE. SUBSEQUENTLY, IT 'SPUN AND CARTWHEELED OFF' THE RWY, THEN CAME TO REST ABOUT 250 FT FROM THE LEFT EDGE OF 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: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 306 hours in all; 300 in this make and model; 35 in the last 90 days; 23 in the last 30 days; 144 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Unknown
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,000 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 27, 1989; 175 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,600 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-200 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 03C Huntington IN at 6:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 21, 4,200 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 290° at 11 knots
- Visibility: 25 statute miles
- Temperature: 45°F (7°C), dew point 18°F (-8°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 7:54 pm from IND, 7 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.