Cessna A150L accident near Terre Haute, Indiana, September 24, 1990
On September 24, 1990 at about 3:02 pm local time, a Cessna A150L, registered N6073J, was substantially damaged in an accident near Terre Haute, Indiana. It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
AN UNDETERMINED LOSS OF ENGINE POWER.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 24, 1990 · about 3:02 pm local time
- Place
- Terre Haute, Indiana · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna A150L · all A150Ls on the register
- Registration
- N6073J · registry record · serial 1500373
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
AN INSTRUCTOR PILOT AND DUAL STUDENT DESCENDED TO THE HOME FIELD PATTERN, ENTERING DOWNWIND NUMBER TWO FOR LANDING. THE INSTRUCTOR EXTENDED DOWNWIND A MILE NORTH OF THE AIRPORT BEFORE TURNING TO BASE LEG. ON APPLICATION OF THROTTLE DURING THE BASE LEG, THE ENGINE LOST POWER AND STOPPED. THE INSTRUCTOR ATTEMPTED A FORCED LANDING IN A FARM FIELD. AT THE NEAR EDGE OF THE CHOSEN FIELD, THE AIRPLANE STRUCK A POWER LINE AND FELL TO GROUND. ACCORDING TO THE ICING PROBABILITY CURVES, CARBURETOR ICING CONDITION EXISTED AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT CARBURETOR HEAT WAS USED.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 380 hours in all; 60 in this make and model; 15 in the last 90 days; 270 as pilot in command; 109 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,283 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 31, 1990; 20 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,600 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-200-A (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Mills Aviation
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 220° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 55°F (13°C), dew point 39°F (4°C)
- Observation at 2:45 pm from HUF, 1 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 |
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.
Other NTSB records under N6073J the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.