Cessna 150 accident near Atlantic Ocean, AO, August 29, 1991
On August 29, 1991 at about 5:20 pm local time, a Cessna 150, registered N3303V, was destroyed in an accident near Atlantic Ocean, AO (Atlantic Ocean airport). It was an instructional 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 BECAME LOST OVER THE ATLANTIC OCEAN AND FLEW UNTIL THE FUEL SUPPLY WAS EXHAUSTED.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 29, 1991 · about 5:20 pm local time
- Place
- Atlantic Ocean, AO · Atlantic Ocean · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 150 · all 150s on the register
- Registration
- N3303V · no longer on the register · serial 15076455
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE STUDENT PILOT MISSED SEVERAL KEY LANDMARKS ON A SUPERVISED SOLO CROSS COUNTRY FLIGHT. AFTER BECOMING DISORIENTED, HE FLEW EAST FROM THE MOUTH OF CHESAPEAKE BAY OUT TO THE ATLANTIC OCEAN. SIXTY MILES EAST OF THE ATLANTIC OCASTLINE, THE AIRCRAFT EXPERIENCED FUEL EXHAUSTION AND THE PILOT SUCCESSFULLY DITCHED IN THE OCEAN, WHERE HE WAS RESCUED BY PERSONNEL ON A PLEASURE BOAT.
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
- Flight time: 43 hours in all; 20 in this make and model; 20 in the last 90 days; 9 in the last 30 days; 56 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, January 2, 2000
- Maximum gross weight: 1,600 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-200-A (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Journey Aviation
The flight
- Departed from: W29 Stevensville MD at 1:05 pm
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 310° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 4,000 ft
- Temperature: 90°F (32°C), dew point 72°F (22°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 4:50 pm from ORF, 80 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.