Cessna 150 accident near Coos Bay, Oregon, April 19, 2003
On April 19, 2003 at about 8:30 pm local time, a Cessna 150, registered N7057F, was substantially damaged in an accident near Coos Bay, Oregon. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's improper remedial action during takeoff and his failure to maintain airspeed. Contributing factors included the binding of the left brake and the trees.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 19, 2003 · about 8:30 pm local time
- Place
- Coos Bay, Oregon · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 150 · all 150s on the register
- Registration
- N7057F · no longer on the register · serial 15063657
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
After adding takeoff power the pilot noticed the plane was not accelerating, and that a dragging left brake was pulling it to the left. Halfway down the runway the pilot decided to abort the takeoff, but then realizing he didn't have room to stop, decided to continue the takeoff. Rotating late, the pilot pulled back on the yoke a little too hard which resulted in the tail striking the ground. The aircraft then came off the ground, hit some berry bushes, some trees, then impacted the top of another tree causing the airplane to stall. The airplane impacted the ground in a nose down attitude, coming to rest on a 20-degree down slope of a ravine. Both wings and the firewall were substantially damaged. The pilot's son, also a pilot, said he had experienced similar problems with the left brake on previous occasions, stating that they would taxi the airplane until the brake was free. A post accident examination of the left brake revealed no anomalies which would have prevented normal operations.
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
Dual student
- Certificate: student
- Flight time: 150 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (invalid medical for flight)
- Seat: left
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 6, 2002; 58 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,117 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-200 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Coos Bay OR at 8:30 pm
- Destination: Coos Bay OR
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 270° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 54°F (12°C), dew point 45°F (7°C)
- Altimeter: 30.17 inHg
- Observation at 8:35 pm from OTH, 8 miles away
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.