Cessna 150G accident near Medina, Ohio, March 26, 2003
On March 26, 2003 at about 8:45 pm local time, a Cessna 150G, registered N3964J, was substantially damaged in an accident near Medina, Ohio (Medina Municipal 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 follow published procedures while starting the engine, and his failure to maintain control of the airplane.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 26, 2003 · about 8:45 pm local time
- Place
- Medina, Ohio · Medina Municipal · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 150G · all 150Gs on the register
- Registration
- N3964J · no longer on the register · serial 15065254
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot preflighted the airplane, boarded, and engaged the starter. Everything seemed "normal" with the start until the engine started to "race." The airplane "lunged" forward, struck a hangar, and then two parked airplanes before coming to a stop. After the accident, an engine run and brake test was performed. The throttle functioned normally during the engine run, and the brakes were able to hold the airplane in place with the engine operating at full throttle. The aircraft checklist required the brakes to be tested and set prior to the pilot starting the engine.
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: 253 hours in all; 4 in this make and model; 6 in the last 90 days; 1 in the last 30 days
- Last flight review: September 10, 2002
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,809 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 25, 2003; 99.2 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,600 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-200-A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 1G5 Madina OH
- Destination: 1G5
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 4,500 ft
- Temperature: 54°F (12°C), dew point 28°F (-2°C)
- Altimeter: 29.95 inHg
- Observation at 8:51 pm from CAK, 15 miles away
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.