Cessna 150M accident near Phoenix, Arizona, June 6, 2025
On June 6, 2025 at about 12:30 pm local time, a 1975 Cessna 150M, registered N45659, was substantially damaged in an accident during initial climb near Phoenix, Arizona (Phoenix Deer Valley airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 6, 2025 · about 12:30 pm local time
- Place
- Phoenix, Arizona · Phoenix Deer Valley · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 150M, built 1975 · all 150Ms on the register
- Registration
- N45659 · registry record · serial 15077011
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative preliminary · quoted from the NTSB record
On June 6, 2025, about 0530 mountain standard time, a Cessna 150M, N45659, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Phoenix, Arizona. The flight instructor and student pilot sustained minor injuries. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 instructional flight. The pilot reported that he had departed runway 07L at Phoenix Deer Valley Airport (DVT), Phoenix, Arizona. During the left turn to the crosswind leg of the airport traffic pattern, about 300 ft above ground levelgl, the engine lost power. The pilot continued the left turn to return to the runway, but the airplane descended rapidly and landed in a vacant lot about 3,100 ft northeast of the departure runway threshold and nosed over. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the aft fuselage and empennage. Fuel was observed leaking from the airplane while inverted, and during the airplane recovery, several gallons of fuel were extracted from the fuel tank to facilitate transport. The wreckage was recovered to a secure area for further investigation.
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
What happened, in order
- Loss of engine power (total) during initial climb defining event
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 9,005.7 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 1, 2025
- Maximum gross weight: 1,600 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
The flight
- Departed from: DVT Phoenix AZ at 12:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 07L/, 4,500 ft by 75 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 48°F (9°C)
- Altimeter: 29.85 inHg
- Observation at 5:53 am from KDVT, 42 miles away
Weather report (METAR): KDVT 061253Z 00000KT 10SM CLR 23/09 A2985 RMK AO2 SLP083 T02330094
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The NTSB has not released the docket for this case yet. The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), is usually released when the investigation is nearly complete, and the list here is refreshed when it appears. Check 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.