Cessna 150H accident near Dyer, Nevada, July 12, 2003
On July 12, 2003 at about 8:30 pm local time, a Cessna 150H, registered N22897, was substantially damaged in an accident near Dyer, Nevada (Dyer airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the pilot's inadequate compensation for the gusting crosswind conditions and failure to maintain directional control.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 12, 2003 · about 8:30 pm local time
- Place
- Dyer, Nevada · Dyer · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 150H · all 150Hs on the register
- Registration
- N22897 · registry record · serial 15068598
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
During landing rollout a wind gust was encountered, which resulted in the pilot losing control of the airplane and it swerving off the runway. The airplane came to rest in sand, in a nose down attitude. According to the pilot, as he approached his home base airport the turbulence intensity was "approaching severe," and the wind was variable in direction and gusty. Upon landing and decelerating to between 40 and 45 miles per hour, a very strong gust of wind was experienced that was from about 90 degrees left of his course. The pilot indicated that he lost control of his airplane when it was "weather-vaned" off the runway and into the soft sand.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land
- Flight time: 2,060 hours in all; 360 in this make and model; 30 in the last 90 days; 20 in the last 30 days; 2,060 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: June 1, 2002
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,883 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 1, 2003; 21 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,600 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-200A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: RNO Reno NV at 7:30 pm
- Destination: 2Q9 Dyer NV
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 30, 2,870 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 230° at 12 knots, gusting 20
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 97°F (36°C), dew point 43°F (6°C)
- Altimeter: 30.20 inHg
- Observation at 7:56 pm from TPH, 51 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.