Cessna 150 accident near New Bern, North Carolina, April 26, 1989
On April 26, 1989 at about 11:30 pm local time, a Cessna 150, registered N1595Q, was substantially damaged in an accident near New Bern, North Carolina. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S IMPROPER IN-FLIGHT PLANNING/DECISION AND A DELAYED GO-AROUND. TURBULENCE, WET TERRAIN, AND A DITCH WERE CONTRIBUTING FACTORS.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 26, 1989 · about 11:30 pm local time
- Place
- New Bern, North Carolina · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 150 · all 150s on the register
- Registration
- N1595Q · no longer on the register · serial 15072895
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT WAS PRACTICING A FORCED LANDING WITH AN INTENDED POWER RECOVERY AT 100 FT AGL. HE STATED THAT AS POWER WAS APPLIED TO GO AROUND, THE AIRPLANE ENCOUNTERED TURBULENCE AT TREETOP LEVEL & THE RIGHT WING DROPPED. HE APPLIED CORRECTIVE ACTION, BUT THE AIRPLANE SETTLED TO A FEW FEET ABOVE THE GROUND. HE ELECTED TO LAND, BUT DURING THE LANDING ROLL-OUT ON WET TERRAIN, THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH A DITCH & WAS DAMAGED.
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: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 82 hours in all; 60 in this make and model; 10 in the last 90 days; 4 in the last 30 days; 50 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 1,650 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-200-A (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Air East
The flight
- Departed from: EWN New Bern NC at 11:00 pm
- Destination: EWN
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 4,000 ft
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 61°F (16°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:53 pm from EWN
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.