Cessna 150L accident near Belhaven, North Carolina, July 20, 1991
On July 20, 1991 at about 9:00 pm local time, a Cessna 150L, registered N51361, was substantially damaged in an accident near Belhaven, North Carolina (Riverside airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE POOR IN FLIGHT PLANNING BY THE PILOT. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO COMPENSATE FOR THE TAIL WIND, MAINTAIN AIRSPEED, AND MAINTAIN CLEARANCE FROM THE TREES.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 20, 1991 · about 9:00 pm local time
- Place
- Belhaven, North Carolina · Riverside · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 150L · all 150Ls on the register
- Registration
- N51361 · no longer on the register · serial 15069950
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT STATED THAT HE WAS ATTEMPTING A GO AROUND FOLLOWING A LOW APPROACH TO THE SHORT, SOD FIELD. HE INITIALLY STATED THAT HE DID NOT BELIEVE THERE WERE ANY PROBLEMS WITH THE AIRCRAFT AND LATER STATED THAT HE COULD NOT REMEMBER ANYTHING AFTER ENTERING THE DOWNWIND LEG. THE TEMPERATURE IN THE AREA AT THE TIME WAS APPROXIMATELY 90 DEGREES. THE PILOT MADE THE APPROACH TO THE NORTH WITH AN APPROXIMATE 10-KNOT TAIL WIND. A WITNESS LOCATED ON THE NORTHEAST END OF THE RUNWAY STATED THE AIRCRAFT WAS AT ABOUT 50 FEET ABOVE GROUND LEVEL AS IT PASSED HER POSITION. THE TREES ON THE NORTH END OF THE RUNWAY ARE APPROXIMATELY 100 FEET TALL. INSPECTION OF THE AIRCRAFT AND ENGINE REVEALED NO MALFUNCTIONS.
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: 150 hours in all; 146 in this make and model; 7 in the last 90 days; 80 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,723 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 1, 1991; 39 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: ECG Elizabeth City NC at 8:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 5, 1,752 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 240° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: scat
- Temperature: 90°F (32°C), dew point 75°F (24°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 8:50 pm from EWN, 41 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.