Cessna 150J and North American T-6G accident near Winchester, Virginia, May 1, 1988
On May 1, 1988 at about 5:45 pm local time, 2 aircraft, Cessna 150J (N905PS) and North American T-6G (N4996H), were involved in the same accident near Winchester, Virginia (Winchester airport). No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved. 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
- May 1, 1988 · about 5:45 pm local time
- Place
- Winchester, Virginia · Winchester · map
- Type
- Accident · collision on the ground
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft 1
- Cessna 150J · all 150Js on the register
- Registration
- N905PS · no longer on the register · serial 15070712
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
- Aircraft 2
- North American T-6G · all T-6Gs on the register
- Registration
- N4996H · registry record · serial 493320
- Damage
- Not recorded
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative for the Cessna 150J final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE T-6 STRUCK THE C-150 FROM BEHIND WHILE BOTH WERE TAXIING FOR TAKEOFF. THE C-150 WAS STOPPED AT THE TIME. THERE WAS AN ANNUAL FLY-IN BEING HELD AT THE ARPT WITH ABOUT 300 ACFT IN ATTENDANCE. GROUND PERSONNEL WERE DIRECTING GROUND TRAFFIC. THE T-6 PLT SAID HE WAS MOTIONED FORWARD BY GROUND PERSONNEL WHO HE RELIED ON BECAUSE HE WAS UNABLE TO SEE DIRECTLY AHEAD OF THE NOSE OF HIS ACFT. HE ALSO SAID THE TAXIWAY WAS TOO NARROW, WITH INADEQUATE CLEARANCE ALONGSIDE IT TO ALLOW HIM TO DO S-TURNS.
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 NTSB's narrative for the North American T-6G final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE T-6 STRUCK THE C-150 FROM BEHIND WHILE BOTH WERE TAXIING FOR TAKEOFF. THE C-150 WAS STOPPED AT THE TIME. THERE WAS AN ANNUAL FLY-IN BEING HELD AT THE ARPT WITH ABOUT 300 ACFT IN ATTENDANCE. GROUND PERSONNEL WERE DIRECTING GROUND TRAFFIC. THE T-6 PLT SAID HE WAS MOTIONED FORWARD BY GROUND PERSONNEL WHO HE RELIED ON BECAUSE HE WAS UNABLE TO SEE DIRECTLY AHEAD OF THE NOSE OF HIS ACFT. HE ALSO SAID THE TAXIWAY WAS TOO NARROW, WITH INADEQUATE CLEARANCE ALONGSIDE IT TO ALLOW HIM TO DO S-TURNS.
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 for the Cessna 150J from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 364 hours in all; 6 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 1,600 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-200A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
The factual record for the North American T-6G from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,236 hours in all; 119 in this make and model; 15 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 12,752 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 1, 1987; 59 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 5,625 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: P&W R-1340-AN1 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
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.