Cessna 150H accident near South Hill, Virginia, March 16, 1985
On March 16, 1985 at about 7:00 pm local time, a Cessna 150H, registered N23231, was substantially damaged in an accident near South Hill, Virginia (Mecklenburg-Brunswick Reg airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 16, 1985 · about 7:00 pm local time
- Place
- South Hill, Virginia · Mecklenburg-Brunswick Reg · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 150H · all 150Hs on the register
- Registration
- N23231 · registry record · serial 15068811
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE ON A SOLO CROSS COUNTRY FLIGHT THE STUDENT PILOT BECAME DISORIENTATED AFTER ABOUT 60MIN OF FLT. HE ATMPTD TO CALL IN THE BLIND ON GUARD. FREQ. BOTH DANVILLE AND ROANOK FSS'S RESPONDED TO HIS CALLS BUT WERE UNABLE TO ESTABLISH 2 WAY COMMO WITH THE PLT. IN ADDITION OTR ACFT IN THE AREA ALSO TRIED TO TALK TO HIM WITH NEGATIVE RESULTS. THE ACFT EVENTUALLY RAN OUT OF FUEL AND DURING THE FORCED LNDG THE RT WING COLLIDED WITH A TREE AND THE ACFT LNDD HARD IN A PLOWED 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
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 40 hours in all; 40 in this make and model; 8 in the last 90 days; 12 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 13,678 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 19, 1984; 688 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,500 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-200-A (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Shenandoah Aviation Serv. INC.
The flight
- Departed from: GSO Greensboro NC at 4:30 pm
- Destination: W78 South Boston VA
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 240° at 11 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 25,000 ft; scat at 12,000 ft
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 25°F (-4°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:50 pm from DAN, 63 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.