- Date
- October 29, 1989, 15:45 local (20:45 UTC)
- Place
- Carrollton, OH
- Injuries
- 1 fatal
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Maneuvering
- Aircraft
- N66538Cessna 150M
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report June 26, 1992
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19891029043419A
- Case key
- 8102
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot failed to maintain adequate airspeed while maneuvering, which led to an inadvertent stall/spin. Contributing to the accident were the pilot's apparent desire to show off, and the low altitude at which he chose to perform the maneuver.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
Witnesses reported that the pilot was performing up and down 'roller coaster' maneuvers at low altitude when the accident occurred. During the climb portion of one of the maneuvers, the airplane suddenly rolled sharply to one side and entered a spin. The airplane subsequently crashed in an open field and burned. According to witnesses, the airplane was only 100 to 200 ft AGL, when the pilot initiated the maneuvers. Two witnesses noted that the pilot had performed the 'roller coaster' maneuvers on previous occasions. Post-crash examination of the wreckage revealed no evidence of any pre-existing mechanical failure or malfunction. Post-mortem examination of the pilot revealed nothing that could be causally related to the mishap.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N66538
- Reported as
- Cessna 150M
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 15076107
- Engine
- Continental O-200-A, 100 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Fire
- On-Ground
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Marion L. Brewer
- Registered owner
- Harold D. Byer
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Utility
- Departed
- NONE · Carrollton, OH
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 48
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Left
- Toxicology
- Performed
- Flight hours
- 1,250 total
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 50° at 5 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 57 °F, dew point 36 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- CAK, 28 nm away
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.