Cessna 150J accident near Dunn, North Carolina, August 6, 1989
On August 6, 1989 at about 2:06 pm local time, a Cessna 150J, registered N5558G, was destroyed in an accident near Dunn, North Carolina (Denning airport). It was a personal 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 PILOT'S FAILURE TO PROPERLY CALCULATE THE TAKEOFF DISTANCE REQUIRED FOR THE CONDITIONS AND THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH POWER LINES DURING CLIMBOUT.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 6, 1989 · about 2:06 pm local time
- Place
- Dunn, North Carolina · Denning · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 150J · all 150Js on the register
- Registration
- N5558G · no longer on the register · serial 15071058
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE ATTEMPTING A TAKEOFF FROM A 1,400 FOOT SOD AIRSTRIP, THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH UTILITY LINES ABOUT 100 FEET OFF THE DEPARTURE END OF THE RUNWAY. THE PILOT ESTIMATED THAT THE RUNWAY WAS 1,600 FEET LONG. HOWEVER, THE MEASURED LENGTH WAS 1,400 FEET. THE OWNER'S MANUAL INSTRUCTS THE PILOT TO ADD ABOUT 17% TO THE CALCULATED TOTAL DISTANCE FOR ADDITIONAL TEMPS AND SOD SURFACES. A TAKEOFF DISTANCE OF 1620 FEET WOULD BE REQUIRED TO CLEAR A 50 FOOT OBSTACLE.
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: 150 hours in all; 144 in this make and model; 11 in the last 90 days; 8 in the last 30 days; 77 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,576 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 7, 1989; 3 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: Dunn NC at 10:00 am
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 9, 1,400 ft by 66 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 300° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 70°F (21°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 12:51 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.