Cessna 150H accident near Deland, Florida, September 4, 2010
On September 4, 2010 at about 6:30 pm local time, a Cessna 150H, registered N23471, was substantially damaged in an accident during uncontrolled descent near Deland, Florida (Deland Municipal Aiport 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 adequate airspeed and airplane control during the initial climb, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall, wire strike, and subsequent impact with the ground.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 4, 2010 · about 6:30 pm local time
- Place
- Deland, Florida · Deland Municipal Aiport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 150H · all 150Hs on the register
- Registration
- N23471 · no longer on the register · serial 15068972
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
During the initial climb after takeoff, a witness observed the airplane pitching nose down and recovering. Several witnesses observed the airplane strike power lines and come to rest inverted. Postaccident examination of the engine and airframe identified no preimpact anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. About 5 months before the accident, the Federal Aviation Administration determined that the pilot was not qualified for any class of medical certificate due to a stroke that resulted in the pilot's shuffling gait and double vision. The pilot's autopsy revealed severe disease of the coronary arteries and heart valves. Postmortem toxicology testing suggested the relatively recent use of a multi-symptom cold or allergy preparation containing an impairing and sedating antihistamine. The pilot's judgment and performance may have been impaired by the medication and/or his medical conditions, but the role of such potential impairment in the accident sequence could not be conclusively determined.
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
What happened, in order
- Unknown or undetermined during initial climb
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during uncontrolled descent defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Incorrect action performance › Pilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Airspeed › Not attained/maintained
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Wire › Contributed to outcome
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 1,175 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: fatal
Other crew
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 1,500 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,546 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 11, 2010
- Maximum gross weight: 1,600 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Cont Motor O-200-A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: DED Deland FL at 6:29 pm
- Destination: DED Deland FL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 23, 4,301 ft by 75 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 270° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 18,000 ft; a few clouds at 6,000 ft
- Temperature: 91°F (33°C), dew point 66°F (19°C)
- Altimeter: 29.95 inHg
- Observation at 6:53 pm from DAB, 14 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight 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 N23471 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.