Cessna 150 accident near Valmy, Nevada, March 2, 1990
On March 2, 1990, a Cessna 150, registered N60301, was substantially damaged in an accident near Valmy, Nevada. It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOTS POOR INFLIGHT PLANNING AND DECISION TO LAND ON AN ABANDONED HIGHWAY IN STRONG GUSTY CROSSWIND CONDITIONS, HIS IMPROPER REMEDIAL ACTION OF TURNING DOWNWIND AT A LOW ALTITUDE AFTER ABORTING THE LANDING AND HIS FAILURE TO MAINTAIN AIRSPEED. FACTORS IN THE ACCIDENT WERE THE HIGH WINDS AND UNFAVORABLE WIND CONDITIONS.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 2, 1990
- Place
- Valmy, Nevada · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 150 · all 150s on the register
- Registration
- N60301 · no longer on the register · serial 15070210
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO LAND ON A ABANDONED ROAD IN STRONG CROSSWIND CONDITIONS. HE ENCOUNTERED A WIND GUST AFTER TOUCHDOWN, APPLIED FULL THROTTLE FOR A GO-AROUND AND TURNED DOWNWIND. THE AIRCRAFT STALLED APPROX 100 FT AGL, DESCENDED AND IMPACTED THE GROUND IN A 45 DEGREE NOSE DOWN ATTITUDE.
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: 2,000 hours in all; 10 in this make and model; 35 in the last 90 days; 20 in the last 30 days; 2,000 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,339 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 26, 1989; 61 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: O04 Carson City NV at 10:20 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 220° at 18 knots
- Visibility: 35 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 9,000 ft; scat at 7,000 ft
- Temperature: 50°F (10°C), dew point 28°F (-2°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
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.