Cessna 150M accident near Williamston, North Carolina, October 29, 1990
On October 29, 1990 at about 10:45 pm local time, a Cessna 150M, registered N3490V, was substantially damaged in an accident near Williamston, North Carolina (Martin County 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 STUDENT PILOT'S FAILURE TO PROPERLY FLARE THE AIRPLANE DURING THE NIGHT LANDING ATTEMPT. THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN GEOGRAPHIC ORIENTATION AND THE SUBSEQUENT FLIGHT INTO NIGHT CONDITIONS WERE FACTORS IN THE ACCIDENT. THE PILOT'S LACK OF NIGHT FLYING EXPERIENCE WAS ALSO A FACTOR IN THE ACCIDENT.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 29, 1990 · about 10:45 pm local time
- Place
- Williamston, North Carolina · Martin County · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 150M · all 150Ms on the register
- Registration
- N3490V · no longer on the register · serial 15076520
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE STUDENT PILOT WAS FLYING THE THIRD LEG OF HIS 300 MILE SOLO CROSS COUNTRY WHEN HE BECAME LOST. HE CONTINUED THE FLIGHT AND REQUESTED ASSISTANCE FROM THE FSS VIA RADIO. HE CONTINUED FLYING PAST SUNSET WHILE LOOKING FOR FAMILIAR LANDMARKS. FINALLY, HE LOCATED AN AIRFIELD AND ATTEMPTED A NIGHT LANDING. UPON LANDING, THE AIRPLANE BOUNCED, THEN LANDED HARD, BENDING THE NOSE GEAR. THE AIRPLANE CAME TO A STOP ON ITS RIGHT WING. THE PILOT'S ONLY NIGHT FLYING EXPERIENCE OCCURRED EIGHT MONTHS EARLIER, WHEN HE LOGGED .9 HOURS OF NIGHT TIME, WITH FIVE NIGHT LANDINGS.
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: 66 hours in all; 57 in this make and model; 18 in the last 90 days; 6 in the last 30 days; 26 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,657 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 18, 1990; 82 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: CRE N. Myrtle Beach SC at 8:30 pm
- Destination: PGV Greenville NC
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 21, 3,700 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 010° at 1 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 41°F (5°C), dew point 34°F (1°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 11:41 pm from PGV
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.