Cessna 150M accident near Leesburg, Virginia, February 18, 1990
On February 18, 1990 at about 7:10 pm local time, a Cessna 150M, registered N63506, was substantially damaged in an accident near Leesburg, Virginia (Leesburg airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO ASSURE AN ADEQUATE SUPPLY OF FUEL WAS ONBOARD TO COMPLETE THE FLIGHT.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 18, 1990 · about 7:10 pm local time
- Place
- Leesburg, Virginia · Leesburg
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 150M · all 150Ms on the register
- Registration
- N63506 · no longer on the register · serial 15077355
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT WAS PRACTICING TOUCH AND GO LANDINGS AND DURING CLIMB OUT ON THE FIFTH TOUCH AND GO, THE ENGINE LOST POWER. A MOMENTARY GAIN IN POWER WAS EXPERIENCED FOLLOWED BY ANOTHER LOSS IN POWER. A FORCED LANDING WAS MADE IN MUDDY TERRAIN TO THE LEFT OF THE RUNWAY CENTERLINE TO AVOID TREES AT THE END OF THE RUNWAY. THE AIRPLANE NOSED OVER DURING THE LANDING. POST ACCIDENT INSPECTION OF THE AIRPLANE REVEALED A TOTAL OF 4 GALLONS OF FUEL REMAINED ONBOARD. UNUSABLE FUEL FOR THE AIRPLANE WAS 3.5 GALLONS.
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: 265 hours in all; 5 in the last 90 days; 4 in the last 30 days; 265 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,685 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 12, 1990; 2 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,600 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-200-A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 17, 4,500 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 10 knots, gusting 18
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 25,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 45°F (7°C), dew point 21°F (-6°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:50 pm from IAD, 9 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.