Cessna 150 accident near Millis, Massachusetts, January 2, 1990
On January 2, 1990 at about 3:30 pm local time, a Cessna 150, registered N9241U, was substantially damaged in an accident near Millis, Massachusetts (Norfolk airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S IMPROPER USE OF CARBURETOR HEAT WHICH CAUSED A POWER LOSS AND A FORCED LANDING IN UNSUITABLE TERRAIN. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE CARBURETOR ICING CONDITIONS AND THE PILOTS LACK OF TOTAL EXPERIENCE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 2, 1990 · about 3:30 pm local time
- Place
- Millis, Massachusetts · Norfolk
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 150 · all 150s on the register
- Registration
- N9241U · no longer on the register · serial 15078191
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE STUDENT PILOT EXPERIENCED A POWER LOSS ON TAKEOFF AT 500 FEET AND MADE A FORCED LANDING IN A GRAVEL PIT. THE ENGINE WAS TEST RUN SATISFACTORILY AFTER THE ACCIDENT. THE CLOSEST RECORDED WEATHER WAS 25 MILES AWAY AND HAD A TEMPERATURE OF 28 DEGREES F AND A DEWPOINT OF 16 DEGREES F. HOWEVER THE FAA REPORTED THE DEWPOINT WAS NOT REPRESENTATIVE OF THE AIRPORT WHICH IS TYPICALLY MORE HUMID DUE TO THE CLOSE PROXIMITY OF PONDS AND STREAMS.
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: 63 hours in all; 63 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,600 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-200A (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Aviation East
The flight
- Departed from: MA07 Norfolk MA at 3:30 pm
- Destination: AFN Jaffery NH
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 300° at 15 knots
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 7,000 ft; scat at 3,000 ft
- Temperature: 28°F (-2°C), dew point 16°F (-9°C)
- Observation at 3:35 pm from ORH, 25 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.