Cessna 150J accident near Grantham, North Carolina, September 16, 1990
On September 16, 1990 at about 4:00 pm local time, a Cessna 150J, registered N41GF, was substantially damaged in an accident near Grantham, North Carolina (Cox Grantham 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
THE PILOT'S IMPROPER USE OF THE RUDDER TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL AND HIS PREMATURE LIFT-OFF, WHICH RESULTED IN A STALL AND COLLISION WITH THE GROUND.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 16, 1990 · about 4:00 pm local time
- Place
- Grantham, North Carolina · Cox Grantham · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 150J · all 150Js on the register
- Registration
- N41GF · registry record · serial 15069965
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT STATED THAT DURING TAKE OFF THE AIRPLANE DRIFTED LEFT. HE COUNTERED WITH INSUFFICIENT RIGHT RUDDER. THE DRIFT CONTINUED, HE PULLED BACK ON THE YOKE, & THE AIRPLANE BECAME AIRBORNE. IT ROLLED RIGHT & THE STALL WARNING HORN ACTIVATED. LEFT AILERON WAS APPLIED WITHOUT RESULT. THE NOSE WAS PITCHED DOWN TO ACCELERATE THE AIRPLANE. THE RIGHT WING THEN COLLIDED WITH A COTTON FIELD & THE AIRPLANE GROUND LOOPED.
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: 28 hours in all; 7 in this make and model; 7 in the last 90 days; 6 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (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: Grantham Aero Club
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 21, 2,800 ft by 54 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.