Cessna 150 accident near Lancaster, Pennsylvania, June 24, 1990
On June 24, 1990 at about 10:54 pm local time, a Cessna 150, registered N6442G, was substantially damaged in an accident near Lancaster, Pennsylvania. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured; 2 others were unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S SELECTION OF AN UNSUITABLE LANDING SITE. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE PILOTS DECISION TO LAND IN A FIELD WITH INSUFFICIENT SPACE AVAILABLE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 24, 1990 · about 10:54 pm local time
- Place
- Lancaster, Pennsylvania
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured; 2 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 150 · all 150s on the register
- Registration
- N6442G · no longer on the register · serial 15071942
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT PLANNED AN OFF AIRPORT LANDING IN AN OPEN FIELD. ON SHORT FINAL THE PILOT'S WIFE BECAME CONCERNED WITH THE LANDING AREA AND THE PILOT ADDED POWER TO EXAMINE THE FIELD. HE LOOKED DOWN AND SAW THE FIELD WAS MOWED. WHEN HE LOOKED BACK UP HE SAW POWER LINES AHEAD AND HE DID NOT HAVE ROOM FOR A GO AROUND. HE CUT THE POWER AND TOUCHED DOWN. THE AIRPLANE CROSSED A DEPRESSED AREA AT THE END OF THE LANDING AREA. COLLAPSED THE NOSE WHEEL AND FLIPPED OVER. THE PILOT AND PASSENGER IN SEATS WERE NOT INJURED. THE PILOTS 2 YEAR OLD SON, UNSECURED IN THE BAGGAGE COMPARTMENT RECEIVED A BROKEN COLLAR BONE.
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: 181 hours in all; 92 in this make and model; 13 in the last 90 days; 158 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,920 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 26, 1989; 52 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: Forest Hill MD at 10:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 310° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 5,000 ft
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 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.