Cessna 150 accident near Powell, Tennessee, October 23, 1992
On October 23, 1992 at about 7:15 pm local time, a Cessna 150, registered N3366J, was substantially damaged in an accident near Powell, Tennessee (Powell Airport). It was a personal 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 WATER IN THE AIRCRAFT FUEL AS A RESULT OF THE IMPROPER PREFLIGHT BY THE PILOT.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 23, 1992 · about 7:15 pm local time
- Place
- Powell, Tennessee · Powell Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 150 · all 150s on the register
- Registration
- N3366J · no longer on the register · serial 15066066
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE AIRCRAFT HAD BEEN PARKED OUTDOORS, ON THE AIRPORT RAMP, FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME. THE PILOT/MECHANIC WAS IN THE PROCESS OF POST MAINTENANCE OPERATIONAL CHECKS OF THE AIRCRAFT. DURING A HIGH SPEED RUN ON THE RUNWAY, THE AIRCRAFT BECAME AIRBORNE. THE PILOT DECIDED TO CIRCLE THE AIRFIELD, AND DURING THE CLIMB OUT THE ENGINE LOST PARTIAL POWER. THE AIRCRAFT CRASHED INTO A GROUP OF TREES OFF THE DEPARTURE END OF THE RUNWAY. AFTER THE ACCIDENT, WATER WAS DETECTED IN THE AIRCRAFT FUEL TANKS.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 8,643 hours in all; 500 in this make and model; 27 in the last 90 days; 13 in the last 30 days; 8,643 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,756 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 12, 1989; 1 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: 9A2 at 9:15 pm
- Destination: 9A2
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 23, 2,600 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: not reported
- Wind: from 150° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 25,000 ft
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 43°F (6°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:50 pm from TYS, 20 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.
Other NTSB records under N3366J the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.