Cessna 150 accident near Orlando, Florida, December 26, 1989
On December 26, 1989 at about 5:52 am local time, a Cessna 150, registered N704SM, was substantially damaged in an accident near Orlando, Florida (Orlando Int. airport). It was a personal 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
THE PILOT'S LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT DUE TO A LOSS OF CONSCIOUSNESS BROUGHT ON BY REACTIVE HYPOGLYCEMIA.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 26, 1989 · about 5:52 am local time
- Place
- Orlando, Florida · Orlando Int. · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 150 · all 150s on the register
- Registration
- N704SM · no longer on the register · serial 15078838
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE FLIGHT HAD BEEN CLEARED TO LAND ON RWY 18L, BUT LINED UP FOR RWY 17. THE TOWER INFORMED THE PILOT THAT HE WAS ON FINAL FOR THE WRONG RUNWAY & CLEARED HIM TO LAND ON ON RWY 17. THE PILOT STATED THAT AT ABOUT 200-300 FT HE BECAME DIZZYAND BLACKED OUT. THE AIRPLANE CAME TO REST INVERTED. THE PILOT'S LOSS OF CONSCIOUSNESS WAS LATER DIAGNOSED AS REACTIVE HYPOGLYCEMIA COMPOUNDED BY THE PILOT'S IMPROPER DIETARY HABITS.
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: 176 hours in all; 78 in this make and model; 78 in the last 90 days; 52 in the last 30 days; 52 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 9,492 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, September 22, 1989; 95 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,600 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-200-A (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Sebastian Aero Services, INC.
The flight
- Departed from: X26 Sebastian FL at 11:30 pm
- Destination: MCO Orlando FL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 17, 10,000 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 180° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 52°F (11°C), dew point 39°F (4°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:16 am from MCO
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.