Cessna 150E accident near Bradenton, Florida, September 12, 1998
On September 12, 1998 at about 8:10 pm local time, a Cessna 150E, registered N6080T, was substantially damaged in an accident near Bradenton, Florida. It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The loss of engine power for undetermined reasons.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 12, 1998 · about 8:10 pm local time
- Place
- Bradenton, Florida
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 150E · all 150Es on the register
- Registration
- N6080T · no longer on the register · serial 15060780
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
According to the pilot/operator, about 1600 on September 12, 1998, he was preparing to take another pilot on a familiarization flight to demonstrate his company's flight operations. The second pilot handled the preflight inspection. The pilot observed the inspection, but did not notice any water being drained from the fuel tanks. The first pilot, who was a student rated pilot, stated that he was the pilot in command (PIC) and planned to depart the field to the east, and climb to an altitude around 400-500 feet. The engine was running fine and the takeoff was normal. About 50-100 feet above ground level (AGL) the pilot stated that it was like someone had 'pulled the throttle back' and the engine quit. Due to trees on the extended centerline of the turf runway, the pilot put the airplane in a left turn. After turning about 45 degrees, he stated that the two men 'became passengers' as the airplane descended and crashed in a field.
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: student
- Flight time: 2,500 hours in all; 2,000 in this make and model; 21 in the last 90 days; 7 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 7,998 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 27, 1998; 9,688 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,760 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360 A1A (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Florida Aerial Advertising INC
The flight
- Departed from: NONE Bradenton FL at 8:05 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 020° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 70°F (21°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
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.
Other NTSB records under N6080T 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.