Cessna 150H accident near Bath, North Carolina, April 16, 1995
On April 16, 1995 at about 3:30 pm local time, a Cessna 150H, registered N7025S, was substantially damaged in an accident near Bath, North Carolina. It was an aerial observation 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
A BIRD, WHICH COLLIDED WITH AND FRACTURED THE AIRCRAFT WINDSHIELD, RESULTING IN AN EMERGENCY LANDING. A FACTOR WAS THE SOFT TERRAIN AT THE EMERGENCY LANDING SITE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 16, 1995 · about 3:30 pm local time
- Place
- Bath, North Carolina · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 150H · all 150Hs on the register
- Registration
- N7025S · no longer on the register · serial 15067725
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial observation flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE COMMERCIAL PILOT WAS IN CRUISE FLIGHT, SPOTTING FOR FOREST FIRE HAZARDS. WHILE AT 1,000 FEET MSL, 95 KNOTS IAS, A LARGE GOOSE COLLIDED WITH THE LEFT SIDE OF THE WINDSHIELD, AND ENTERED THE COCKPIT, STRIKING THE PILOT ON THE HEAD. HE OBSERVED A LARGE AMOUNT OF BLOOD ON HIMSELF, AND WAS FEARFUL THAT HE MAY HAVE BEEN BLEEDING. HE SET UP FOR AN EMERGENCY LANDING IN AN OPEN FIELD. DUE TO VISIBILITY RESTRICTIONS, HE DID NOT OBSERVE A SET OF POWER LINES IN TIME TO AVOID COLLIDING WITH THEM. AFTER COLLIDING WITH THE POWER LINES, THE AIRCRAFT NOSED OVER ON THE SOFT TERRAIN.
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 single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,173 hours in all; 400 in this make and model; 253 in the last 90 days; 100 in the last 30 days; 1,121 as pilot in command; 543 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,292 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 3, 1995; 100 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,600 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-200-A (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Dillon'S Aviation
The flight
- Departed from: PGV Greenville NC at 2:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 270° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: ovct at 25,000 ft
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 48°F (9°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 2:52 pm from EWN, 27 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.
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.