Cessna 150 accident near Greenwood, South Carolina, June 8, 1990
On June 8, 1990 at about 10:30 pm local time, a Cessna 150, registered N6285G, was substantially damaged in an accident near Greenwood, South Carolina (Greenwood County airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 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 MAINTAIN FLYING SPEED DURING THE FLARE PHASE OF THE APPROACH/LANDING. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS A SUDDEN INCREASE IN WINDS.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 8, 1990 · about 10:30 pm local time
- Place
- Greenwood, South Carolina · Greenwood County · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 150 · all 150s on the register
- Registration
- N6285G · no longer on the register · serial 15071785
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE ATTEMPTING A LANDING THE PILOT EXPERIENCED A DOWNDRAFT DURING THE FLARE PHASE OF THE APPROACH. THE AIRPLANE TOUCHDOWN WAS HARD CAUSING SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE. THE STUDENT PILOT WAS ON THE SECOND ATTEMPT WHEN THE WINDS GUSTED UP TO 30 MPH. AN EXPERIENCED PILOT WHO LANDED BEFORE THE ACCIDENT REPORTED EXPERIENCING THE SAME GUSTY CONDITIONS. THE WEATHER FORECAST DID NOT PREDICT CONVECTIVE CONDITIONS. HOWEVER, THE STUDENT FAILED TO MAINTAIN FLYING SPEED DURING THE FINAL PHASE OF THE APPROACH.
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: 18 hours in all; 18 in this make and model; 1 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection; 25 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,600 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-200A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0, 5,200 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 17 knots, gusting 26
- Visibility: 4 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 5,000 ft
- Temperature: 93°F (34°C), dew point 70°F (21°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:30 pm from GRD, 25 miles away
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.