- Date
- June 18, 1989, 08:25 local (13:25 UTC)
- Place
- Wisc Rapids, WI
- Injuries
- 1 fatal, 1 serious
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Initial climb
- Aircraft
- N6878GCessna 150L
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report September 30, 1991
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19890618015909A
- Case key
- 14256
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's failure to assure that the flaps were in the up position during takeoff. A factor related to the accident was the pilot's lack of familiarity with aircraft.
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
This was the pilot's first flight in a Cessna 150 without a flight instructor. The aircraft was loaded near the maximum gross weight (allowable = 1,600 pounds; calculated = 1,594.9 pounds). Calculated density altitude 2,051.8 feet. A maneuver described by witnesses as a stall/spin was observed after takeoff. Examination revealed that the flaps were at 18 degrees according to jackscrew extension and Cessna specifications.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N6878G
- Reported as
- Cessna 150L
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 15072378
- Airframe hours
- 3,200
- Engine
- Continental O-200-A, 100 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Gross, Kurt R.
- Registered owner
- Gross, Kurt R
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- 100 hour · January 27, 1989 · 66 hours before
- Airport
- ISW · Alexandria Field
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
- 65
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Left
- Toxicology
- Performed
- Flight hours
- 227 total · 2 in this make and model · 162 as pilot in command · 3 in the last 90 days · 2 in the last 30 days · 1 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 230° at 3 knots
- Visibility
- 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 72 °F, dew point 66 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.00 inHg
- Observed at
- CWA, 27 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.