# NTSB DEN90FA161: Cessna 150L, N11580, Hettinger, ND, July 13, 1990

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: July 12, 1990, 18:15 local (Jul 13, 1990, 00:15 UTC)
- Place: Hettinger, ND
- Coordinates: 45.999534, -102.62992 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.9995&lon=-102.6299&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal
- Status: Completed, report January 23, 1992
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 17841
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN90FA161
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/17841/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN90FA161

## Probable cause

THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN AIRSPEED DURING CLIMBOUT. CONTRIBUTING FACTORS WERE: THE PILOT'S LACK OF RECENT EXPERIENCE, AND THE OVER MAXIMUM GROSS WEIGHT CONDITION OF THE AIRCRAFT.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of control - in flight, takeoff - initial climb
  - aircraft weight and balance - exceeded, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - airspeed - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - lack of recent experience, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, takeoff - initial climb

## Analysis

AFTER TAKEOFF, AT ABOUT 200FT AGL, THE AIRCRAFT WAS OBSERVED IN A LEFT WING DOWN, EXAGGERATED NOSE HIGH ATTITUDE, AND THEN ROLL RAPIDLY TO THE RIGHT AND IMPACT THE GROUND IN A NEAR VERTICAL NOSE DOWN DESCENT. THE PILOT'S LOG BOOK INDICATED A TOTAL PILOT TIME OF 113 HRS OVER A 45-YEAR TIME PERIOD, WITH 2 HRS DURING THE LAST 90 DAYS. THE AIRCRAFT WAS APRX 74 LBS OVER MAX GROSS WEIGHT.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N11580](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N11580-1991-05-17), registration cancelled 1991-05-17, S/N 15075537 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 150L
- Registry model: [Cessna 150L](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-150l) (registry code 2071826) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 15075537
- Engines: CONTINENTAL O-200-A 100 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Midwest Air Center, Inc
- Departed: HEI
- Destination: Y-19, MANDAN, ND
- Airport: HET, Hettinger, runway 12, 4,650 × 75 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 67; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; toxicology performed; flight hours: 113 total, 7 in this make and model, 83 as pilot in command, 2 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 140° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 41 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: DIK, 55 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 (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19900712025389A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19900712025389A), Jul 12, 1990: Cessna 150L, Hettinger, ND, Destroyed, 2 fatal. Over gross weight, stalled, crashed and burned during a steep climbing turn after takeoff.

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

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