Cessna 150J accident near Albemarle, North Carolina, September 23, 1990
On September 23, 1990 at about 5:15 pm local time, a Cessna 150J, registered N5BW, was substantially damaged in an accident near Albemarle, North Carolina. 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 NOT OBTAINING AN ADEQUATE FUEL SUPPLY FOR HIS PLANNED FLIGHT, RESULTING IN FUEL EXHAUSTION.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 23, 1990 · about 5:15 pm local time
- Place
- Albemarle, North Carolina · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 150J · all 150Js on the register
- Registration
- N5BW · registry record · serial 15069426
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT HAD PLANNED A CROSS COUNTRY SIGHTSEEING FLIGHT, WITH INTERMEDIATE STOPS FOR FUEL. AT THE FIRST STOP HE ONLY PURCHASED A LIMITED AMOUNT OF FUEL BECAUSE OF THE HIGH PRICE. HE DID NOT PURCHASE FUEL AT THE SECOND STOP. ON THE FINAL LEG OF THE FLIGHT, THE ENGINE QUIT. UNABLE TO GLIDE TO THE NEAREST SUITABLE AIRPORT, HE FORCE LANDED IN A FIELD, DAMAGING THE AIRPLANE. NO FUEL WAS FOUND ON BOARD THE AIRPLANE AT THE ACCIDENT SITE, AND THE PILOT ACKNOWLEDGED EXHAUSTING HIS FUEL SUPPLY.
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: 190 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
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-200A (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Metrolina Flying Club, INC.
The flight
- Departed from: W44 Asheboro NC
- Destination: 8A6 Charlotte NC
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 320° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 6,000 ft
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 45°F (7°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 4:50 pm from CLT, 42 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.