Cessna 150K accident near Barnwell, South Carolina, January 31, 1988
On January 31, 1988 at about 11:00 pm local time, a Cessna 150K, registered N6254G, was substantially damaged in an accident near Barnwell, South Carolina (Barnwell County airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries. 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
- January 31, 1988 · about 11:00 pm local time
- Place
- Barnwell, South Carolina · Barnwell County · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 150K · all 150Ks on the register
- Registration
- N6254G · no longer on the register · serial 15070754
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE CFI AND HER STUDENT BECAME LOST ON THE LAST LEG OF A DUAL X-C FLT AFTER ENCOUNTERING RAINSHOWERS AND LOW CEILINGS. AFTER UNSUCCESSFULLY ATTEMPTING TO LOCATE THEIR DESTINATION ARPT, THE CFI LOCATED ANOTHER ARPT AND ELECTED TO LAND THERE. THE ENGINE SUBSEQUENTLY LOST POWER DUE TO FUEL EXHAUSTION, AND A FORCED LDG WAS MADE IN A FIELD ABOUT 3 MI FROM THE ARPT. THE AIRPLANE NOSED OVER ON LDG. THE CFI HAD OBTAINED HER INSTRUCTOR CERTIFICATE ABOUT 2 WEEKS EARLIER. SHE REPORTED FLYING 15 HOURS DURING THE PREVIOUS 24 HOURS.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 551 hours in all; 62 in this make and model; 189 in the last 90 days; 412 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 8,648 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection; 98 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: GGE Georgetown SC at 4:30 pm
- Destination: 99N Bamberg SC
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: dusk
- Wind: from 090° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 3 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 4,000 ft; scat at 2,000 ft
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | 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.