Cessna 150J accident near Seneca, South Carolina, May 1, 1999
On May 1, 1999 at about 10:15 pm local time, a Cessna 150J, registered N50943, was substantially damaged in an accident near Seneca, South Carolina (Eddie Wright airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed which resulted in a stall and subsequent impact with trees.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 1, 1999 · about 10:15 pm local time
- Place
- Seneca, South Carolina · Eddie Wright · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 150J · all 150Js on the register
- Registration
- N50943 · no longer on the register · serial 15069663
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot established a final approach for a touch and go landing. The pilot landed with 40 degrees of flaps, and during the takeoff phase of the touch and go procedure, he retracted the flaps to 10 degrees. He continued the climbout and retracted the remanding flaps in increments. As he retracted the flaps, the airplane lost altitude and collided with trees. No mechanical problems with the airplane were reported by the pilot. According to the pilot's handbook takeoff should not be accomplished with 30 or 40 degrees of flaps.
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: 3,676 hours in all; 150 in this make and model; 20 in the last 90 days; 5 in the last 30 days; 250 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,370 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 10, 1999; 20 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,600 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-200-A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: LQK Pickens CO SC at 10:15 pm
- Destination: CUE Oconee CO SC
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 36, 2,500 ft by 80 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 120° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 68°F (20°C), dew point 39°F (4°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:56 pm from AND, 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.