Cessna 150 accident near Woodstock, Connecticut, May 14, 1989
On May 14, 1989 at about 4:20 pm local time, a Cessna 150, registered N11789, was substantially damaged in an accident near Woodstock, Connecticut (Woodstock 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
INADEQUATE COMPENSATION FOR WIND CONDITIONS BY THE PILOT WHICH RESULTED IN NOT MAINTAINING PROPER ALIGNMENT WITH THE RUNWAY. THE CROSSWIND AND SOFT/WET TERRAIN WERE CONTRIBUTING FACTORS.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 14, 1989 · about 4:20 pm local time
- Place
- Woodstock, Connecticut · Woodstock
- 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
- N11789 · no longer on the register · serial 15075633
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT RPRTD THAT AS HE WAS LANDING, THE ACFT BALLOONED & THE WIND BLEW IT TO THE LEFT. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE ACFT TOUCHED DOWN ON SOFT, WET TERRAIN ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE RWY & NOSED OVER. THE PLT RPRTD THE WIND WAS GUSTING TO 15 KTS.
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: 32 hours in all; 32 in this make and model; 8 in the last 90 days; 2 in the last 30 days; 18 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,162 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 25, 1989; 7 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: Danielson CT at 4:10 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 19, 2,200 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 270° at 5 knots, gusting 15
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 5,000 ft
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
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.