Cessna 150 accident near Melbourne, Arkansas, March 6, 2002
On March 6, 2002 at about 7:30 pm local time, a Cessna 150, registered N51060, was substantially damaged in an accident near Melbourne, Arkansas (Melbourne Municipal airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the pilot's failure to maintain directional control as a result of becoming incapacitated due to a stroke while taxiing for takeoff.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 6, 2002 · about 7:30 pm local time
- Place
- Melbourne, Arkansas · Melbourne Municipal · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 150 · all 150s on the register
- Registration
- N51060 · registry record · serial 15069737
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The private pilot was back taxiing on the runway for takeoff when he became incapacitated and lost control of the airplane. The airplane departed the left side of the runway at a 20 angle, proceeded past the end of the runway, and down an embankment (approximately 600 feet). The airplane flipped over and came to rest inverted. Subsequently, the pilot underwent medical treatment and was diagnosed as having had a stroke.
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: 2,022 hours in all; 200 in this make and model; 1,972 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: March 18, 2001
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,457 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 1, 2002; 51 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,600 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E2D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 42A Melbourne AR at 7:30 pm
- Destination: BVX Batesville AR
- Flight plan: not recorded
- Runway 21, 4,000 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 8 knots, gusting 10
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 52°F (11°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.