Cessna 150B accident near Woodford, Virginia, September 25, 1993
On September 25, 1993 at about 9:30 pm local time, a Cessna 150B, registered N7386X, was substantially damaged in an accident near Woodford, Virginia (Woodford airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT MISJUDGING HIS ALTITUDE AND AIRSPEED AND NOT ATTAINING THE PROPER TOUCHDOWN POINT RESULTING IN THE AIRPLANE EXITING THE RUNWAY AND COLLIDING WITH PINE TREES. FACTORS IN THIS ACCIDENT WERE: 1) THE WET RUNWAY, 2) RAIN WHICH RESULTED IN POOR BRAKING ACTION ON THE WET GRASS STRIP.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 25, 1993 · about 9:30 pm local time
- Place
- Woodford, Virginia · Woodford · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 150B · all 150Bs on the register
- Registration
- N7386X · no longer on the register · serial 15059486
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT REPORTED THAT HE OBTAINED A WEATHER BRIEFING EARLIER THAT INDICATED HIS TRIP WOULD NOT ENCOUNTER ANY UNFAVORABLE WEATHER; HOWEVER, ABOUT 5 MILES AFTER DEPARTURE HE STATED THAT THE WEATHER STARTED TO DETERIORATE, SO HE DECIDED TO REVERSE DIRECTION. UPON ARRIVAL AT THE AIRPORT, HE STATED THAT IT WAS RAINING HEAVILY AS HE ESTABLISHED FOR A LANDING ON RUNWAY 27, A GRASS STRIP WHICH IS 2600 FEET LONG. HE REPORTED THAT HE WAS HIGH ON THE APPROACH, BUT HE WAS NOT TOO CONCERNED. UPON LANDING ABOUT 2/3 DOWN THE RUNWAY, HE WAS UNABLE TO OBTAIN ANY BRAKING ACTION WHEN HE APPLIED THE BRAKES. ACCORDING TO THE FAA, THE AIRPLANE EXITED THE RUNWAY FOR APPROXIMATELY 200 FEET THROUGH A FIELD OF 5 FOOT TALL PINE TREES. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT THERE WAS NO MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION AND THE ACCIDENT COULD HAVE BEEN PREVENTED IF HE HAD EXECUTED A GO-AROUND AND SET UP FOR A SHORT FIELD LANDING.
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: 160 hours in all; 150 in this make and model; 28 in the last 90 days; 20 in the last 30 days; 7 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,400 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 29, 1992; 150 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,500 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-200-A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: HEF Manassas VA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 27, 2,600 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 8 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; not recorded
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.