Cessna 150M accident near Bellingham, Washington, May 23, 1993
On May 23, 1993 at about 8:15 pm local time, a Cessna 150M, registered N63531, was substantially damaged in an accident near Bellingham, Washington (Bellingham International airport). It was an instructional 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
THE INADEQUATE COMPENSATION FOR WIND CONDITIONS BY THE STUDENT PILOT. FACTORS RELATING TO THE ACCIDENT WERE THE GUSTY WIND CONDITIONS AND THE STUDENT'S 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
- May 23, 1993 · about 8:15 pm local time
- Place
- Bellingham, Washington · Bellingham International · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 150M · all 150Ms on the register
- Registration
- N63531 · no longer on the register · serial 15077376
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE STUDENT PILOT ENCOUNTERED WIND GUSTS DURING LANDING FLARE/TOUCHDOWN, AND THE ACFT TURNED LEFT 90 DEGREES AND IMPACTED TREES BESIDE THE RUNWAY. WIND AT THE TIME WAS 14 KNOTS, GUSTING TO 25 KNOTS. THE STUDENT PILOT HAD 46 HOURS TOTAL FLIGHT TIME.
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: 46 hours in all; 46 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 8,920 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 20, 1993; 4 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,600 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-200-A48 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: CLM Port Angeles WA at 7:10 pm
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 2, 1,760 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 020° at 14 knots, gusting 25
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 46°F (8°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 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.