Cessna 150L accident near Rockledge, Florida, September 28, 1989
On September 28, 1989 at about 2:40 pm local time, a Cessna 150L, registered N17295, was substantially damaged in an accident near Rockledge, Florida (Rockledge Airpark airport). It was an instructional 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
FAILURE OF THE STUDENT PILOT TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT, WHICH RESULTED IN AN INADVERTENT GROUND SWERVE. THE GUSTY CROSSWIND AND PROXIMITY OF THE PARKED AIRCRAFT WERE RELATED FACTORS.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 28, 1989 · about 2:40 pm local time
- Place
- Rockledge, Florida · Rockledge Airpark · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 150L · all 150Ls on the register
- Registration
- N17295 · registry record · serial 15073708
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE STUDENT PLT RPRTD THAT THE PURPOSE OF THE FLT WAS TO PRACTICE X-WIND LANDINGS BEFORE TAKING HIS PVT PLT CHECK FLT, WHICH WAS SCHEDULED FOR THE FLWG DAY. HE LANDED ON RWY 18 WITH THE WIND FM 120 DEG AT 5 GUSTING 8 KTS. AFTER LANDING, HE LOST CONTROL OF THE ACFT. SUBSEQUENTLY, IT WENT OFF THE LEFT SIDE OF THE RWY & COLLIDED WITH A PARKED/UNOCCUPIED CESSNA 150.
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: student
- Flight time: 48 hours in all; 48 in this make and model; 48 in the last 90 days; 48 in the last 30 days; 21 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,600 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-200-A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 18, 2,000 ft by 45 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 120° at 5 knots, gusting 8
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°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.