Cessna 150J accident near Greensboro, North Carolina, May 14, 1991
On May 14, 1991 at about 1:48 am local time, a Cessna 150J, registered N5519G, was substantially damaged in an accident near Greensboro, North Carolina (Greensboro Southeast airport). 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 IMPROPER FLARE DURING THE LANDING. FACTORS IN THE ACCIDENT WERE THE DARK NIGHT AND LACK OF RUNWAY EDGE LIGHTS.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 14, 1991 · about 1:48 am local time
- Place
- Greensboro, North Carolina · Greensboro Southeast · 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
- N5519G · registry record · serial 15071019
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT SAID HE STRUCK A ROCK DURING LDG ROLL. HE HAD LANDED IN THE GRASS BESIDE THE RWY BECAUSE MOST OF THE RWY LIGHTS WERE NOT FUNCTIONING. IT WAS A DARK NIGHT & THE AVAILABLE LIGHTS CAUSED HIM TO MISJUDGE HIS FINAL APPROACH, THE PILOT SAID. HIS PAX SAID HE COULD NOT SEE THE RWY ON LANDING.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 672 hours in all; 25 in this make and model; 5 in the last 90 days; 3 in the last 30 days; 446 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-200-A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 17, 3,063 ft by 30 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 200° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 66°F (19°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 1:50 am from GSO, 15 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.