Cessna 150M accident near Apopka, Florida, July 23, 2015
On July 23, 2015 at about 11:25 pm local time, a 1976 Cessna 150M, registered N704SB, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff (rejected takeoff) near Apopka, Florida (Orlando Apopka airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
Following a bird strike during takeoff, the pilot's decision to land without sufficient runway remaining to safely stop the airplane, which resulted in an over-run, collision with terrain, and nose over.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 23, 2015 · about 11:25 pm local time
- Place
- Apopka, Florida · Orlando Apopka · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 150M M, built 1976 · all 150Ms on the register
- Registration
- N704SB · no longer on the register · serial 15078828
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
During the takeoff following a touch-and-go landing, a flight of birds flew in front of the airplane and caused a bird strike on the right side of the airplane. The pilot aborted the takeoff, landed on the runway, and was unable to stop as he reported there was "no runway distance for safe landing." The airplane departed the end of the runway, impacted terrain, and nosed over. The airplane sustained minor damage from the bird strike, and substantial damage to the fuselage and to the empennage during the accident. The pilot reported there were no pre-impact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine 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
- Birdstrike during takeoff (rejected takeoff) defining event
- Loss of control on ground during landing (landing roll)
- Runway excursion during landing (landing roll)
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing (landing roll)
- Nose over/nose down during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Decision making/judgment › Pilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Surface speed/braking › Not attained/maintained
- cause Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Animal(s)/bird(s) › Effect on operation
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 6,200 hours in all; 1,150 in this make and model; 25 in the last 90 days; 11 in the last 30 days; 5,600 as pilot in command; 1,250 on instruments
- Last flight review: July 11, 2015
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Passenger
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,750 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, May 5, 2015
- Maximum gross weight: 1,650 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Cont Motor O-200 SERIES (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Heartland Fliers, LLC
The flight
- Departed from: ORL Orlando FL at 10:50 pm
- Destination: ORL Orlando FL
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 33, 3,987 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 270° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 3,200 ft
- Temperature: 90°F (32°C), dew point 75°F (24°C)
- Altimeter: 29.98 inHg
- Observation at 10:53 pm from KLEE, 14 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
2 documents, released by the NTSB on September 11, 2015. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Photo 1 – View of Fuselage and Empennage (Photo Courtesy of the FAA) | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
Other NTSB records under N704SB 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.