Cessna 150L accident near Hettinger, North Dakota, July 13, 1990
On July 13, 1990, a Cessna 150L, registered N11580, was destroyed in an accident near Hettinger, North Dakota (Hettinger airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN AIRSPEED DURING CLIMBOUT. CONTRIBUTING FACTORS WERE: THE PILOT'S LACK OF RECENT EXPERIENCE, AND THE OVER MAXIMUM GROSS WEIGHT CONDITION OF THE AIRCRAFT.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 13, 1990
- Place
- Hettinger, North Dakota · Hettinger · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 150L · all 150Ls on the register
- Registration
- N11580 · no longer on the register · serial 15075537
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
AFTER TAKEOFF, AT ABOUT 200FT AGL, THE AIRCRAFT WAS OBSERVED IN A LEFT WING DOWN, EXAGGERATED NOSE HIGH ATTITUDE, AND THEN ROLL RAPIDLY TO THE RIGHT AND IMPACT THE GROUND IN A NEAR VERTICAL NOSE DOWN DESCENT. THE PILOT'S LOG BOOK INDICATED A TOTAL PILOT TIME OF 113 HRS OVER A 45-YEAR TIME PERIOD, WITH 2 HRS DURING THE LAST 90 DAYS. THE AIRCRAFT WAS APRX 74 LBS OVER MAX GROSS WEIGHT.
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; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 113 hours in all; 7 in this make and model; 2 in the last 90 days; 2 in the last 30 days; 83 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,600 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-200-A (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
- Operator: Midwest Air Center, INC
The flight
- Departed from: HEI
- Destination: Y-19 Mandan ND
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 12, 4,650 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 140° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 41°F (5°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.