Cessna 150H accident near Smithville, Ohio, April 19, 2002
On April 19, 2002 at about 9:05 pm local time, a Cessna 150H, registered N502MA, was substantially damaged in an accident near Smithville, Ohio (Wayne County 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 failure to maintain directional control. A factor was the gusty winds
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 19, 2002 · about 9:05 pm local time
- Place
- Smithville, Ohio · Wayne County Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 150H · all 150Hs on the register
- Registration
- N502MA · registry record · serial 15067576
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that he was practicing take-off's and landings on runway 28, and on his fourth landing, the airplane was hit by a strong gust of wind. The pilot reported that he added power to perform a go-around, but was unable to keep the airplane on the runway. About 1705, the airplane departed the runway on the left side, crossed a bank, and nosed over in a field. The recorded weather recorded at the airport at 1652 included winds from 270 degrees at 8 knots. At 1707, the winds were reported from 340 degrees at 7 knots with gusts to 26 knots.
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: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 452 hours in all; 39 in this make and model; 2 in the last 90 days; 1 in the last 30 days; 406 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: February 9, 2001
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 7,460 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, December 14, 2001; 75 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,600 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-200 (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Mid-Ohio Aviation INC
The flight
- Departed from: BJJ Smithville OH at 8:50 pm
- Destination: BJJ
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 28, 5,192 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 340° at 17 knots, gusting 26
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 6,000 ft
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 63°F (17°C)
- Altimeter: 29.95 inHg
- Observation at 9:07 pm from BJJ
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.