Cessna 150 accident near Lynchburg, Virginia, March 12, 1992
On March 12, 1992 at about 5:00 pm local time, a Cessna 150, registered N5258Q, was substantially damaged in an accident near Lynchburg, Virginia. 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'S POOR IN-FLIGHT DECISION MAKING RESULTING IN FUEL EXHAUSTION. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE PILOT'S OVERALL LACK OF EXPERIENCE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 12, 1992 · about 5:00 pm local time
- Place
- Lynchburg, Virginia · 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
- N5258Q · no longer on the register · serial 15073158
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING A SOLO CROSS COUNTRY FLIGHT, ORIGINATING FROM NORFOLK, VIRGINIA, FLYING TO ROCKY MOUNTAIN, NORTH CAROLINA, ON TO FARMVILLE, VIRGINIA, WITH A FINAL DESTINATION OF NORFOLK, VIRGINIA, THE STUDENT PILOT TURNED THE AIRPLANE TO THE WRONG MAGNETIC HEADING AFTER TAKEOFF FROM ROCKY MOUNTAIN AIRPORT. THE STUDENT PILOT DID NOT REALIZE HE WAS OFF COURSE FOR APPROXIMATELY THREE HOURS. THE PILOT CONTACTED FARMVILLE AIRPORT AND DESCRIBED THE TERRAIN BELOW HIM TO THE AIRPORT PERSONNEL. THEY BELIEVED HE WAS JUST OUTSIDE FARMVILLE, AND THAT THE AIRPORT WAS BEYOND THE CITY HE WAS FLYING OVER. THE STUDENT PILOT STARTED TO HEAD TOWARDS THE DESCRIBED AIRPORT WHEN HIS ENGINE QUIT. HE MADE A FORCED LANDING IN A UNIVERSITY PARKING LOT, STRIKING A HEDGE AND AN UNOCCUPIED VEHICLE, BEFORE COMING TO REST. POST ACCIDENT INVESTIGATIONS REVEALED THAT THERE WAS ONE GALLON OF FUEL IN THE RIGHT TANK AND THE LEFT TANK WAS EMPTY. THE ACCIDENT SITE WAS LOCATED NEAR LYNCHBURG, VIRGINIA, 40 NAUTICAL MILES WEST OF FARMVILLE.
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; 43 in this make and model; 10 in the last 90 days; 9 in the last 30 days; 14 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 14, 1992; 81 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,600 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-200A (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Norfolk Navy Flying Club
The flight
- Departed from: RWI Rocky Mount NC
- Destination: FVX Farmville VA
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 240° at 13 knots, gusting 18
- Visibility: 45 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 4,800 ft
- Temperature: 43°F (6°C), dew point 19°F (-7°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
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.