Cessna 150G accident near Arden, North Carolina, April 29, 1993
On April 29, 1993 at about 5:40 pm local time, a Cessna 150G, registered N2971J, was substantially damaged in an accident near Arden, North Carolina (Averys Creek airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE LOSS OF ENGINE POWER, AND THE PILOT'S PREMATURE FLARE DURING LANDING, WHICH RESULTED IN A LANDING STALL. FACTORS WERE THE HIGH OBSTRUCTIONS (TREES) TREES NEAR THE LANDING SITE, AND THE UPHILL TERRAIN CONDITIONS
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 29, 1993 · about 5:40 pm local time
- Place
- Arden, North Carolina · Averys Creek · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 150G · all 150Gs on the register
- Registration
- N2971J · no longer on the register · serial 15065771
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE COMMERCIAL PILOT WAS PERFORMING A CLEARING TURN OVER A GRASS AIRSTRIP AT 700 FEET AGL WHEN THE ENGINE LOST POWER. UNABLE TO REGAIN ENGINE POWER, HE SET UP FOR A FORCED LANDING. HE OBSERVED TREES IN HIS FLIGHT PATH, SO HE TURNED TOWARD AN UPHILL, GRASS PASTURE. HE REPORTED THAT THE 'GROUND BEGAN TO COME UP VERY QUICKLY.' HE PULLED BACK ON THE YOKE, AND THE AIRCRAFT STALLED ABOUT 10 FEET ABOVE THE GROUND, THEN IMPACTED THE GROUND IN A NOSE LOW ATTITUDE. THE REASON FOR THE LOSS OF ENGINE POWER COULD NOT BE DETERMINED
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 440 hours in all; 250 in this make and model; 6 in the last 90 days; 6 in the last 30 days; 348 as pilot in command; 54 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 1, 1992; 6 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: AVL Fletcher NC at 5:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 34, 2,400 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 100° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 25 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 25,000 ft
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 34°F (1°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 5:50 pm from AVL, 3 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.