Cessna 150M accident near Danby, Vermont, September 1, 1985
On September 1, 1985 at about 2:00 am local time, a Cessna 150M, registered N66190, was destroyed in an accident near Danby, Vermont (Rutland airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 1, 1985 · about 2:00 am local time
- Place
- Danby, Vermont · Rutland
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 150M · all 150Ms on the register
- Registration
- N66190 · no longer on the register · serial 15075908
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT OF N66190 RECEIVED A WEATHER BRIEFING FROM LEBANON FLIGHT SERVICE STATION AND WAS ADVISED OF LOW CEILINGS AND ALSO ADVISED THAT VISUAL FLIGHT RULES FLIGHT WAS NOT RECOMMENDED. AT ABOUT THE TIME N66190 WAS DEPARTING RUTLAND, VERMONT, A HELICOPTER PILOT FLYING IN THE AREA REPORTED THE CEILING TO BE AT ABOUT 1500 WITH GOOD VISIBILITY UNDERNEATH. AT 2147 EDT, N66190 CONTACTED THE LEBANON FSS BY RADIO AND STATED THAT HE WAS ENROUTE TO CALDWELL, NEW JERSEY. THE PILOT REQUESTED THE WEATHER FOR ALBANY AND POUGHKEEPSIE, NEW YORK. THE CURRENT WEATHER WAS PROVIDED AND ACKNOWLEDGED. NO FURTHER TRANSMISSIONS WERE RECEIVED FROM N66190. THE AIRCRAFT WAS LOCATED APPROXIMATELY 15 MILES SOUTHWEST OF RUTLAND COUNTY STATED AIRPORT AT AN ALTITUDE OFABOUT 3100 FEET.
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: 425 hours in all; 135 in this make and model; 14 in the last 90 days; 2 in the last 30 days; 336 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 21,198 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 15, 1985; 528 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,600 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-200-A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: RUT Rutland VT at 1:48 am
- Destination: CDW Caldwell NJ
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 020° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 2,000 ft
- Temperature: 55°F (13°C), dew point 48°F (9°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 1:50 am from GFL, 24 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.