Cessna 150F accident near Whiteville, North Carolina, April 13, 1991
On April 13, 1991 at about 9:55 pm local time, a Cessna 150F, registered N7919F, was substantially damaged in an accident near Whiteville, North Carolina. It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
CARBURETOR ICE DUE TO THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO USE CARBURETOR HEAT.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 13, 1991 · about 9:55 pm local time
- Place
- Whiteville, North Carolina · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 150F · all 150Fs on the register
- Registration
- N7919F · no longer on the register · serial 15064019
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE STUDENT PILOT PLANNED TO FLY OVER HIS GRANDMOTHER'S FARM. HE HAD MADE ABOUT THREE CIRCLES AROUND HER HOUSE WHEN THE ENGINE BEGAN 'SPUTTERING.' HE ADJUSTED THE THROTTLE AND THE ENGINE QUIT. THE AIRPLANE STRUCK TREES DURING A FORCED LANDING. AN EXAMINATION OF THE AIRPLANE AFTER THE FLIGHT REVEALED THAT THE CARBURETOR HEAT KNOB WAS IN THE OFF POSITION. AN ENGINE RUN REVEALED NO EVIDENCE OF MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION OR FAILURE. THE TEMPERATURE/DEW POINT SPREAD AT THE TIME WAS 70/55 DEG, WHICH REPRESENTS CONDITIONS FAVORABLE FOR CARBURETOR ICING.
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: 42 hours in all; 38 in this make and model; 11 in the last 90 days; 6 in the last 30 days; 8 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,100 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 12, 1990; 55 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: CPC Whiteville NC at 9:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 8 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 12,000 ft; scat at 3,500 ft
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 9:50 pm from ILM, 39 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.