Cessna 150G accident near Quincy, Florida, January 23, 2012
On January 23, 2012 at about 1:05 am local time, a Cessna 150G, registered N73JK, was substantially damaged in an accident during initial climb near Quincy, Florida (Quincy airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The non-instrument-rated pilot’s spatial disorientation in night instrument meteorological conditions, which resulted in his inability to maintain controlled flight. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s improper decision to take off in deteriorating meteorological conditions.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 23, 2012 · about 1:05 am local time
- Place
- Quincy, Florida · Quincy · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 150G · all 150Gs on the register
- Registration
- N73JK · registry record · serial 15064948
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The non-instrument-rated pilot landed after sunset, refueled the airplane, and took off again about 1 1/2 hours later. A witness, who was in his hangar, did not see the takeoff but heard the engine operate "normally" and noted that fog was developing at the airport at the time. The airplane took off to the southeast, with the destination airport to the east. However, the wreckage path and the accident location indicated that the airplane turned toward the northwest, consistent with flying a downwind leg to return to the departure airport. The airplane subsequently impacted and descended through trees at a relatively shallow angle, with the right wing initially down about 45 degrees. Both propeller and tree impact evidence indicated that the airplane was under power at the time. There was no evidence of any preexisting mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal airplane operation. Autopsy results for the pilot indicated severe heart disease with 90 percent blockage of one artery. However, there was no evidence of an acute heart attack, and the degree of cardiac dysfunction or whether it affected the flight could not be determined; no other debilitating condition was found. Toxicology results revealed the presence of an antidepressant that could have caused dizziness, but low postmortem levels indicated an unlikelihood of impairment. It is unknown why the pilot took off in the deteriorating weather conditions. His attempt to return to the airport rather than climb out toward his destination indicated that once airborne, he was not confident in his ability to complete the flight. During the return attempt, the pilot likely became spatially disoriented in the dark, foggy conditions, which then resulted in his inability to maintain controlled flight.
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
What happened, in order
- VFR encounter with IMC during initial climb
- Loss of control in flight during initial climb defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during uncontrolled descent
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Psychological › Perception/orientation/illusio › Spatial disorientation › Pilot
- factor Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Decision making/judgment › Pilot
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Ceiling/visibility/precip › Low ceiling › Contributed to outcome
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Ceiling/visibility/precip › Fog › Contributed to outcome
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Ceiling/visibility/precip › Low visibility › Contributed to outcome
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Light condition › Dark › Contributed to outcome
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 230 hours in all; 200 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,412 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 11, 2011; 46 hours since
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Cont Motor 0-200 SERIES (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 2J9 Quincy FL at 1:15 am
- Destination: CRG Jacksonville FL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 14, 2,964 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night
- Wind: from 130° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 400 ft; scat at 100 ft
- Temperature: 66°F (19°C), dew point 64°F (18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.12 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight 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.