Cessna 150 accident near Harrisonburg, Virginia, February 3, 1991
On February 3, 1991 at about 6:15 pm local time, a Cessna 150, registered N19240, was destroyed in an accident near Harrisonburg, Virginia (Shenandoah Valley 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 PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS PREMATURE RAISING OF THE FLAPS, AND INADEQUATE AIRSPEED.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 3, 1991 · about 6:15 pm local time
- Place
- Harrisonburg, Virginia · Shenandoah Valley · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 150 · all 150s on the register
- Registration
- N19240 · no longer on the register · serial 15074265
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE APPROACH WAS FLOWN USING FULL FLAPS AT AN AIRSPEED OF 70 MPH. ACCORDING TO THE PILOT, DURING THE LANDING FLARE THE AIRCRAFT FLOATED ABOUT 5 FEET OVER THE RUNWAY. HE APPLIED SOME POWER TO MAINTAIN AIRSPEED, BUT BECAUSE OF THE EFFECT OF ENGINE TORQUE, THE AIRCRAFT BANKED TO THE LEFT. HE DECIDED TO ABORT THE LANDING AND APPLIED FULL POWER. HE RAISED THE FLAPS AND LEVELED THE WINDS, BUT THE AIRCRAFT BANKED AND YAWED LEFT. THE AIRCRAFT STRUCK A DIRT BANK OFF THE SIDE OF THE RUNWAY AND CRASHED. THE PILOT REPORTED NO MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION.
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: 33 hours in all; 33 in this make and model; 22 in the last 90 days; 8 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,120 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded, January 31, 1991; 4 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,600 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-200-A (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Quality Flying INC.
The flight
- Departed from: W49 Culpeper VA at 5:30 pm
- Destination: SHD Harrisonburg VA
- Runway 23, 6,000 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 20,000 ft
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 5:45 pm from SHD
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.