Cessna 150A accident near Beaufort, North Carolina, September 27, 2003
On September 27, 2003 at about 3:00 pm local time, a Cessna 150A, registered N5581E, was substantially damaged in an accident near Beaufort, North Carolina (Raleigh-Durham International airport). It was a personal 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
Loss of engine power due to undetermined reasons.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 27, 2003 · about 3:00 pm local time
- Place
- Beaufort, North Carolina · Raleigh-Durham International · map
- Type
- Accident · collision on the ground
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 150A · all 150As on the register
- Registration
- N5581E · no longer on the register · serial 17081
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
According to the pilot, while en route to the Core Banks Island, he descended to an altitude of 500 feet to survey the site. The pilot reduced flaps, applied carburetor heat, and reduced the power. The engine began to run rough, and full throttle was applied. The carburetor heat control was turned off and the engine quit. During the emergency landing the airplane collided with the ground and came to rest inverted. Examinations of the engine, revealed movement of all the intake and exhaust valves in all combustion cylinders, no anomalies with the ignition system were noted. No mechanical or flight control anomalies were reported by pilot prior to the accident. The Raleigh-Durham International Airport reported a temperature of 75 degrees Fahrenheit with a dew point of 68 degrees Fahrenheit. A review of the icing probability chart revealed conditions were favorable for induction system icing.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 400 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,533 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 28, 2002
- Maximum gross weight: 2,100 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-200 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Harlowe NC at 1:20 pm
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 210° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 4,000 ft
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 68°F (20°C)
- Altimeter: 29.95 inHg
- Observation at 2:51 pm from RDU
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.