Cessna 150K accident near Vine Grove, Kentucky, October 25, 1989
On October 25, 1989 at about 10:15 pm local time, a Cessna 150K, registered N2662Q, was substantially damaged in an accident near Vine Grove, Kentucky (Vine Grove 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
INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT PLANNING/PREPARATION BY THE STUDENT PILOT, WHICH LED TO FUEL EXHAUSTION DUE TO AN INADEQUATE SUPPLY OF FUEL. THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO ATTAIN THE PROPER TOUCHDOWN POINT DURING THE LANDING AND THE PARKED AIRPLANE WERE CONTRIBUTING FACTORS.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 25, 1989 · about 10:15 pm local time
- Place
- Vine Grove, Kentucky · Vine Grove · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 150K · all 150Ks on the register
- Registration
- N2662Q · no longer on the register · serial 15071662
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ENG LOST POWER AS THE STUDENT PLT WAS ENTERING A DOWNWIND TO LAND AFTER COMPLETING A SOLO X-COUNTRY FLT. HE MANEUVERED TO LAND ON RWY 29 WHICH WAS 1900' LONG. HOWEVER, THE ACFT LANDED ABOUT 3/4 OF THE WAY DOWN THE RWY WITH NO FLAPS. SUBSEQUENTLY, IT CONTINUED OFF THE DEPARTURE END OF THE RWY & HIT A PARKED AIRPLANE. AN EXAM OF THE ACFT REVEALED IT WAS EMPTY OF USABLE FUEL & THE FUEL GAUGES INDCD THE TANKS WERE EMPTY.
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: 33 hours in all; 33 in this make and model; 20 in the last 90 days; 6 in the last 30 days; 12 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,044 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 21, 1989; 74 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,600 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-200-A (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Vine Grove Airport INC.
The flight
- Departed from: PAH Paducah KY
- Destination: KY70
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 29, 1,900 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 54°F (12°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
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.