Cessna 150 accident near Westfield, Massachusetts, November 26, 1989
On November 26, 1989 at about 1:23 pm local time, a Cessna 150, registered N704WX, was substantially damaged in an accident near Westfield, Massachusetts (Barnes 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
LOSS OF CONTROL DURING LANDING DUE TO AN IMPROPER FLARE AND RECOVERY FROM A BOUNCED LANDING. A FACTOR RELATING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE LACK OF TOTAL EXPERIENCE OF THE STUDENT PILOT.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 26, 1989 · about 1:23 pm local time
- Place
- Westfield, Massachusetts · Barnes
- 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
- N704WX · no longer on the register · serial 15078942
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE STUDENT PILOT IN THE CESSNA 150 WAS INSTRUCTED TO MAKE A SHORT APPROACH AND HE LANDED HARD, BOUNCED INTO THE AIR, STALLED AND LOST CONTROL, STRIKING THE RUNWAY AND VEERING OFF THE SIDE. THE STUDENT PILOT SAID HE FELT RUSHED BY THE CONTROLLER, HOWEVER, HE FAILED TO IDENTIFY HIMSELF AS A STUDENT PILOT OR MAKE ANY INDICATION TO THE CONTROLLER THAT HE COULD NOT COMPLETE THE SHORT APPROACH.
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: 50 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,235 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 9, 1989; 29 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,600 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-200 (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Charis Air CORP.
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 33, 5,000 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 8,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 34°F (1°C), dew point 27°F (-3°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 1:26 pm from BAF
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.