Cessna 150J accident near Atkins, Virginia, May 12, 1985
On May 12, 1985 at about 1:07 pm local time, a Cessna 150J, registered N51347, was substantially damaged in an accident near Atkins, Virginia. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. 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
- May 12, 1985 · about 1:07 pm local time
- Place
- Atkins, Virginia · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 150J · all 150Js on the register
- Registration
- N51347 · registry record · serial 150-69942
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT NOSED OVER DURING A FORCED LANDING FOLLOWING A LOSS OF PWR WHICH RESULTED FROM FUEL EXHAUSTION. ON THE DAY PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT THE ACFT HAD EXPERIENCED A TOTAL ELECTRICAL FAILURE. THE PLT STATED THAT ON THE DAY OF THE ACCIDENT, HE LOWERED A ROPE INTO THE FUEL TANKS TO CHECK THE FUEL QUANTITY (FUEL GAGES INOP DUE TO ELECTRICAL FAILURE). APRX 2 INCHES OF ROPE WAS MOISTENED BY FUEL AND THE PLT JUDGED THAT ENOUGH FUEL WAS IN THE TANKS TO COMPLETE THE X-COUNTRY. POST ACCIDENT INSPECTION REVEALED 1 GALLON OF FUEL WAS FOUND IN THE ACFT.
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: single-engine land; instructor: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 1,910 hours in all; 39 in this make and model; 102 in the last 90 days; 1,820 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,764 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 8, 1985; 38 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,600 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-200-A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 0A4 Johnson City TN at 12:35 pm
- Destination: 5A1 Marion VA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 12 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 7,500 ft
- Temperature: 68°F (20°C), dew point 64°F (18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 1:00 pm from BLF, 28 miles away
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.