Cessna 150B accident near Hickory, North Carolina, April 10, 1989
On April 10, 1989 at about 8:30 pm local time, a Cessna 150B, registered N1214Y, was substantially damaged in an accident near Hickory, North Carolina (Wilson airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO REFUEL THE AIRPLANE PRIOR TO THE FLIGHT RESULTING IN FUEL EXHAUSTION DURING TAKEOFF.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 10, 1989 · about 8:30 pm local time
- Place
- Hickory, North Carolina · Wilson
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 150B · all 150Bs on the register
- Registration
- N1214Y · no longer on the register · serial 15059614
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF AT AN ALTITUDE OF APRX 75 FT AGL A COMPLETE LOSS OF ENGINE POWER WAS EXPERIENCED. THE PILOT ABORTED THE TAKEOFF AND THE AIRPLANE NOSED OVER AFTER CONTACTING THE RUNWAY. INSPECTION FAILED TO REVEAL ANY MECHANICAL FAILURE/MALFUNCTION. THE PILOT HAD FLOWN THE AIRPLANE EARLIER IN THE DAY AND HAD NOT REFUELED PRIOR TO THIS FLIGHT. THE PILOT REPORTED HAVING APRX 5 GALLONS OF FUEL ONBOARD PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT FLIGHT.
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: student
- Flight time: 30 hours in all; 30 in this make and model; 30 in the last 90 days; 20 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,770 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 1, 1988; 18 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,500 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-200-A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Hickory NC at 8:30 am
- Destination: LCL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 36, 2,000 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 46°F (8°C), dew point 21°F (-6°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 8:30 pm from HKY
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.