Cessna 150 accident near Madison, Connecticut, October 9, 1989
On October 9, 1989 at about 7:30 pm local time, a Cessna 150, registered N50165, was substantially damaged in an accident near Madison, Connecticut (Griswold airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A LOSS OF ENGINE POWER, DUE TO A STUCK EXHAUST VALVE IN THE NUMBER 4 CYLINDER. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: THE PILOT'S EXCESSIVE AIRSPEED ON FINAL APPROACH, AND HIS FAILURE TO ATTAIN THE PROPER TOUCHDOWN POINT DURING THE LANDING.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 9, 1989 · about 7:30 pm local time
- Place
- Madison, Connecticut · Griswold
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 150 · all 150s on the register
- Registration
- N50165 · no longer on the register · serial 15069107
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT OF THE CESSNA 152 EXPERIENCED A PARTIAL POWER LOSS DUE TO A STUCK EXHAUST VALVE IN THE NUMBER 4 CYLINDER. DURING AN APPROACH TO LAND, HE REMAINED HIGH BECAUSE HE KNEW HE COULD NOT GO AROUND. HOWEVER, THE AIRCRAFT WAS TOO HIGH AND FAST FOR THE 1863 FOOT LONG AIRSTRIP AND IT RAN OFF THE DEPARTURE END OF THE RUNWAY.
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: 188 hours in all; 87 in this make and model; 64 in the last 90 days; 24 in the last 30 days; 133 as pilot in command
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,500 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 31, 1989; 40 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,600 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-200 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: MVY Marthas Vineyar MA at 6:00 pm
- Destination: HVN New Haven CT
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 24, 1,863 ft by 50 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 330° at 15 knots, gusting 20
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.