Cessna 150L accident near Pickens, South Carolina, September 8, 1991
On September 8, 1991 at about 9:20 pm local time, a Cessna 150L, registered N11503, was substantially damaged in an accident near Pickens, South Carolina (Pickens County airport). It was an instructional 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 PANICKED, INTENTIONAL INTERFERENCE OF THE FLIGHT CONTROLS BY THE STUDENT.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 8, 1991 · about 9:20 pm local time
- Place
- Pickens, South Carolina · Pickens County · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 150L · all 150Ls on the register
- Registration
- N11503 · no longer on the register · serial 15075468
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE INSTRUCTOR PILOT SAID THAT A WALK-IN STUDENT REQUESTED AN INTRODUCTORY LESSON. PRIOR TO TAKEOFF THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE OF NERVOUSNESS BY THE STUDENT. AFTER TAKEOFF, AT ABOUT 50 FEET, THE STUDENT PANICKED, GRASPED THE FLIGHT CONTROLS, YELLED, AND TRIED TO HIDE BEHIND THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. AFTER GRASPING THE CONTROL WHEEL THE STUDENT POSITIONED THE AIRPLANE LEFT WING AND NOSE DOWN. THE INSTRUCTOR FOUGHT FOR THE CONTROLS WITH PARTIAL SUCCESS. AFTER COLLIDING WITH TREES HE SHUT OFF THE ENGINE WITH THE MIXTURE CONTROL & THE IGNITION & MASTER SWITCHES. WHEN THE AIRPLANE CAME TO REST THE INSTRUCTOR ASSISTED THE STUDENT, WHO WAS STILL GRASPING THE FLIGHT CONTROLS, TO EXIT THE AIRPLANE.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,004 hours in all; 230 in this make and model; 201 in the last 90 days; 58 in the last 30 days; 869 as pilot in command; 615 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,750 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 15, 1991; 50 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,600 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-200A (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Skyline Aviation, INC.
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 4, 5,000 ft by 100 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 130° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds; clear
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 66°F (19°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 8:50 pm from AND, 20 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 |
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.