Cessna 150M accident near Baton Rouge, Louisiana, August 26, 1990
On August 26, 1990 at about 1:34 pm local time, a Cessna 150M, registered N66369, was destroyed in an accident near Baton Rouge, Louisiana (Metropolitan Ryan Field). 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 FLYING SPEED WHICH RESULTED IN AN INADVERTENT STALL DURING THE STEEP TURN. A FACTOR WAS THE DOOR OPENING IN FLIGHT.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 26, 1990 · about 1:34 pm local time
- Place
- Baton Rouge, Louisiana · Metropolitan Ryan Field · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 150M · all 150Ms on the register
- Registration
- N66369 · no longer on the register · serial 15075997
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PRIVATE PILOT RECEIVED HIS PILOT'S LICENSE THE DAY BEFORE THE ACCIDENT. ON THE ACCIDENT DAY, HE HAD GIVEN HIS MOTHER A RIDE, THEN TOOK UP HIS FATHER. TOWER SAID TAKEOFF AND CLIMB WAS NORMAL TO 200 TO 300 FEET AGL. PILOT SAID HE TURNED AROUND FOR IMMEDIATE LANDING, THEN SAID, 'I CAN'T HEAR YOU.' FROM A NOSE HIGH, STEEP LEFT BANK, THE AIRPLANE WENT TO THE GROUND. IT IMPACTED NEAR VERTICAL. WITNESS FIRST SAID HE HEARD A LOUD BANG, THEN SAW AIRPLANE ON THE GROUND. HE LATER SAID HE HEARD A SPUTTERING SOUND, THEN HEARD A LOUD BANK, THEN SAW THE AIRPLANE ON THE GROUND. WITH IMPACT DAMAGE REPAIRED OR REPLACED, ON TEST STAND, ENGINE LATER RAN TO 2,710 RPM. DURING INVESTIGATION, RIGHT DOOR WAS FOUND WITH DIAGONAL IMPACT MARK THAT MATCHED RIGHT WING STRUT. THE RIGHT DOOR LOCK AND THE DOOR-POST-LOCK- RECEPTACLE WERE NOT DAMAGED. THERE WAS PAINT MATCHING THE RIGHT DOOR, ON THE RIGHT WING STRUT.
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
- Flight time: 68 hours in all; 68 in this make and model; 23 in the last 90 days; 17 in the last 30 days; 26 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,811 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, June 4, 1990; 93 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,600 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-200-A (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Capitol City Air Service INC.
The flight
- Departed from: BTR Baton Rouge LA at 1:32 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 31, 6,999 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 25,000 ft
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 77°F (25°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 1:40 pm from BTR, 1 miles away
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.