Cessna 150L accident near Okeechobee, Florida, March 1, 2026
On March 1, 2026 at about 9:45 pm local time, a 1973 Cessna 150L, registered N10310, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff near Okeechobee, Florida (River Acres 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
The pilot’s failure to maintain airplane control during takeoff, which resulted in a runway excursion and collision with terrain.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 1, 2026 · about 9:45 pm local time
- Place
- Okeechobee, Florida · River Acres · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 150L, built 1973 · all 150Ls on the register
- Registration
- N10310 · registry record · serial 15074836
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that during the initial ground effect phase of a soft field takeoff, the airplane drifted left of the runway centerline. The left wing subsequently impacted trees near the edge of the runway and came to rest against a tree line adjacent to the turf runway. The airplane’s fuselage, left wing, and left horizontal stabilizer were substantially damaged during the accident sequence. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
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
- Loss of control in flight during takeoff defining event
- Runway excursion during takeoff
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during takeoff
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Heading/course › Not attained/maintained
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,000.8 hours in all; 346.8 in this make and model; 164.6 in the last 90 days; 55.7 in the last 30 days; 878 as pilot in command; 235.1 on instruments
- Last flight review: February 26, 2025
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,682 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, February 20, 2026; 52 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,600 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Cont Motor O-200-A (piston); 252 hours total
The flight
- Destination: FPR Ft Pierce FL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 15, 3,875 ft by 66 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 050° at 10 knots, gusting 17
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 8,000 ft; a few clouds at 2,900 ft
- Temperature: 77°F (25°C), dew point 66°F (19°C)
- Altimeter: 30.04 inHg
- Observation at 4:35 pm from OBE, 11 miles away
Weather report (METAR): METAR KOBE 012135Z AUTO 05010G17KT 10SM FEW029 SCT034 BKN080 25/19 A3004 RMK AO2
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The NTSB has not released the docket for this case yet. The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), is usually released when the investigation is nearly complete, and the list here is refreshed when it appears. Check 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.