Cessna 150L accident near Greenville, Tennessee, July 12, 1994
On July 12, 1994 at about 3:00 am local time, a Cessna 150L, registered N18714, was substantially damaged in an accident near Greenville, Tennessee. It was an aerial observation flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The failure of the pilot to maintain sufficient terrain clearance, and his inadvertent stall at low altitude.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 12, 1994 · about 3:00 am local time
- Place
- Greenville, Tennessee · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 150L · all 150Ls on the register
- Registration
- N18714 · no longer on the register · serial 15074054
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial observation flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE TWO RESERVE DEPUTY SHERIFFS OVERHEARD A REPORT OF A MISSING PERSON ON THEIR RADIO SCANNERS. THE TWO THEN RENTED THE AIRCRAFT FROM THE LOCAL AIRPORT AND DEPARTED AT 2030 TO ATTEMPT TO ASSIST IN THE SEARCH. WITNESSES IN THE AREA REPORTED THAT THE AIRCRAFT WAS MANEUVERING AT AN ALTITUDE OF ABOUT 100 FEET ABOVE GROUND LEVEL IN THE MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN. THE WITNESSES REPORTED HEARING THE ENGINE RPM INCREASE JUST PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT. THE AIRCRAFT IMPACTED THE TERRAIN, IN A STALLED CONDITION, AT THE BASE OF A SMALL VALLEY.
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: 106 hours in all; 93 in this make and model; 3 in the last 90 days; 61 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,067 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, June 13, 1994; 44 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,600 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-200-A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: GCY TN
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 2,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 72°F (22°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 3:00 am from GCY, 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.