Cessna 150 accident near Columbia, North Carolina, December 3, 1998
On December 3, 1998 at about 7:30 pm local time, a Cessna 150, registered N18022, was substantially damaged in an accident near Columbia, North Carolina. It was a personal 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 failure of the #2 exhaust valve that resulted in the total loss of engine power. A factor is the lack of suitable emergency landing terrain.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 3, 1998 · about 7:30 pm local time
- Place
- Columbia, North Carolina · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 150 · all 150s on the register
- Registration
- N18022 · no longer on the register · serial 15073738
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
Approximately one hour into the flight, the flight instructor reported that the engine developed a rough condition and a reduction in power. Since normal flight could not be maintained, the flight instructor selected a field that he believed would be suitable for a forced landing. During the landing roll, the flight instructor attempted to avoid a collision with a drainage ditch and trees. After the airplane went through several gyrations, it rested180 degrees from the initial landing direction. Examination of the engine disclosed that the #2 exhaust valve had failed, and pieces if the valve head were lodged in the cylinder and the exhaust system. The examination of the valve revealed that the valve head separated at the valve stem attach point. The valve stem remained in a normally installed position, and functioned normally when the engine drive train was rotated. A review of the engine maintenance logs disclosed that this engine had a previous exhaust valve failure 931 hours ago. The exhaust valve Part Number was SA-646612.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine
- Flight time: 490 hours in all; 244 in this make and model; 75 in the last 90 days; 39 in the last 30 days; 467 as pilot in command; 187 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,368 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, November 10, 1998; 54 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,600 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-200A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: MQI Manteo NC at 7:15 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 230° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 50°F (10°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 7:55 pm from EDE, 35 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 |
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.