Cessna 150 accident near Kinston, North Carolina, June 16, 1990
On June 16, 1990 at about 11:30 pm local time, a Cessna 150, registered N6436K, was substantially damaged in an accident near Kinston, North Carolina (Kinston Regional airport). It was an instructional 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
FLIGHT CREW'S FAILURE TO PROPERLY PREFLIGHT AND PLAN FOR THE INTENDED FLIGHT BY NOT ENSURING THAT ADEQUATE FUEL WAS ON BOARD PRIOR TO TAKEOFF. THE ENGINE QUIT DUE TO FUEL EXHAUSTION.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 16, 1990 · about 11:30 pm local time
- Place
- Kinston, North Carolina · Kinston Regional · 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
- N6436K · no longer on the register · serial 1501976
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PURPOSE OF THE FLIGHT WAS TO ADMINISTER A BIENNIAL FLIGHT REVIEW. THE PILOT RECEIVING THE TRAINING APPARENTLY CONDUCTED THE PREFLIGHT INSPECTION WITHOUT THE SUPERVISION OF THE INSTRUCTOR. THE INSTRUCTOR ALSO FAILED TO FOLLOWUP AND CONFIRM THAT THE INSPECTION WAS ACCOMPLISHED ACCORDING TO STANDARD PROCEDURES. THE SECOND PILOT ADMITTED CONDUCTING A POOR INSPECTION, BY NOT ASSURING THAT ADEQUATE FUEL WAS ON BOARD PRIOR TO THE DEPARTURE. THE ENGINE QUIT DUE TO FUEL EXHAUSTION.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 403 hours in all; 87 in this make and model; 104 in the last 90 days; 67 in the last 30 days; 390 as pilot in command; 44 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, June 5, 1990
- Maximum gross weight: 1,600 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-200 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: ISO at 11:00 pm
- Destination: ISO
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 23, 7,500 ft by 150 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 070° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 66°F (19°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 11:30 pm from ISO, 2 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 |
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.