Cessna 150L accident near Roxboro, North Carolina, February 21, 1990
On February 21, 1990 at about 6:50 pm local time, a Cessna 150L, registered N6845G, was substantially damaged in an accident near Roxboro, North Carolina (Person County airport). 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 FAILURE TO USE THE BEFORE LANDING CHECKLIST WHICH REQUIRES THE APPLICATION OF CARBURETOR HEAT. FACTORS WERE SOFT TERRAIN AT ACCIDENT SITE, AND CONDITION FAVORABLE FOR THE FORMATION OF CARBURETOR ICE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 21, 1990 · about 6:50 pm local time
- Place
- Roxboro, North Carolina · Person County · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 150L · all 150Ls on the register
- Registration
- N6845G · no longer on the register · serial 15072345
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
FOLLOWING A LOCAL FLIGHT THE ENGINE SPUTTERED & QUIT ON THE DOWNWIND LEG OF THE LANDING PATTERN. A FORCED LANDING IN SOFT TERRAIN RESULTED IN THE COLLAPSE OF THE NOSE GEAR & A NOSE OVER. THE PILOT SAID HE TOOK OFF WITH TEN GAL OF FUEL & FLEW ABOUT 50 MINUTES. FIRE PERSONNEL SAW FUEL POURING FROM THE VENTS AT THE ACCIDENT SITE. THE PILOT SAID HE HAD REFUELED ABOUT A WEEK PRIOR & FOUND WATER IN THE FUEL AFTERWARDS, WHICH HE DRAINED. NO WATER WAS FOUND DURING HIS PRE FLIGHT NOR IN THE GASCOLATOR AFTER THE ACCIDENT. HOWEVER, THE SPARK PLUGS HAD NO CARBON DEPOSITS ON THE ELECTRODES. THE ENGINE WAS MOUNTED ON A TEST STAND FOLLOWING THE ACCIDENT & OPERATED NORMALLY. ACCORDING TO THE ICING PROBABILITY CURVES, WEATHER CONDITIONS WERE FAVORABLE FOR THE FORMATION OF CARBURETOR ICE WHEN THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED.
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: 201 hours in all; 72 in this make and model; 6 in the last 90 days; 3 in the last 30 days; 149 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 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: TDF at 6:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 6, 5,000 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 130° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 57°F (14°C), dew point 30°F (-1°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:50 pm from RDU, 27 miles away
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.