Cessna 150K accident near Vidalia, Georgia, July 16, 1994
On July 16, 1994 at about 5:30 pm local time, a Cessna 150K, registered N6074G, was substantially damaged in an accident near Vidalia, Georgia. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT PLANNING, AND HIS FAILURE TO REFUEL THE AIRCRAFT, RESULTING IN FUEL EXHAUSTION AND ENGINE STOPPAGE. A FACTOR WERE THE TREES AT THE FORCED LANDING AREA.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 16, 1994 · about 5:30 pm local time
- Place
- Vidalia, Georgia · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 150K · all 150Ks on the register
- Registration
- N6074G · no longer on the register · serial 15071574
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT REPORTED THAT HE DEPARTED ON A CROSS COUNTRY FLIGHT WITH 4 HOURS OF FUEL ON BOARD, OR 24.5 USABLE GALLONS. DURING THE FIRST LEG OF THE FLIGHT, HE BECAME LOST, AND THE FLIGHT LASTED 2.5 HOURS (1.7 HOURS LONGER THAN PLANNED). HE DID NOT REFUEL THE AIRPLANE PRIOR TO THE RETURN FLIGHT, ESTIMATING THAT HE WOULD HAVE A FUEL RESERVE OF 38 MINUTES. ABOUT 10 MILES NORTH OF HIS DESTINATION AIRPORT, THE ENGINE QUIT. THE AIRCRAFT WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED DURING THE FORCED LANDING. POST ACCIDENT EXAMINATION REVEALED THAT THERE WAS NO FUEL IN THE FUEL SYSTEM. BATTERY POWER WAS APPLIED TO THE AIRCRAFT, AND BOTH FUEL GAUGES READ 'EMPTY'. ACCORDING TO THE AIRCRAFT MANUFACTURER, THE USABLE FUEL CAPACITY FOR THIS AIRCRAFT IS ONLY 22.5 GALLONS.
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: 263 hours in all; 13 in this make and model; 9 in the last 90 days; 5 in the last 30 days; 212 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (expired)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,300 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 28, 1994; 9 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,600 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-200-A (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Skyways, INC.
The flight
- Departed from: MLJ Milledgeville GA at 4:46 pm
- Destination: VLD GA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 270° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 4,100 ft
- Temperature: 88°F (31°C), dew point 72°F (22°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 5:56 pm from MCN, 59 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | 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.