Cessna 150L accident near Creedmoor, North Carolina, August 29, 2014
On August 29, 2014 at about 3:03 am local time, a 1971 Cessna 150L, registered N1741Q, was substantially damaged in an accident during enroute (cruise) near Creedmoor, North Carolina. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s inadequate fuel planning, which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s impairment due to alcohol ingestion.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 29, 2014 · about 3:03 am local time
- Place
- Creedmoor, North Carolina · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 150L, built 1971 · all 150Ls on the register
- Registration
- N1741Q · no longer on the register · serial 15073041
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot took off on a cross-cross country flight at night and did not stop for fuel. While the airplane was nearing the destination airport, the engine began to run roughly and then lost all power. The pilot tried to restart the engine but was unsuccessful, so he subsequently conducted a forced landing, and the airplane impacted trees. No fuel odor was noted at the accident site. The fuel tanks remained intact, and no fuel was in the right wing tank, a trace amount of fuel was in the left wing fuel tank, and 2 to 3 ounces of fuel were in the fuel sump. When fuel was added to the carburetor, the engine started and ran. In addition, the fuel gauges were tested, and no anomalies were noted. The unpressurized airplane was equipped with a normally aspirated engine, and its published service ceiling was 12,600 ft mean sea level (msl); however, according to air traffic control (ATC) information, the pilot attempted to climb the airplane to 17,500 ft msl. A review of radar and ATC data revealed that, at the time of the accident, the airplane had been operating for 4 hours 52 minutes and that, although the airplane did not reach 17,500 ft msl, it remained above 12,500 ft msl for 2 hours 40 minutes and reached a maximum altitude of 16,000 ft msl. Review of the owner's manual revealed that, at 12,500 ft msl with a lean mixture and 2,500 rpm, the airplane had an endurance of 5.8 hours; however, these calculations did not include fuel consumed during the taxi, takeoff, initial climb, and continued climb attempt to 17,500 ft msl. According to law enforcement, after the accident, the pilot had a strong odor of alcohol on his breath, and his eyes were red and glassy. A sample of the pilot's breath was taken on a portable breathalyzer, which recorded a blood alcohol content of 0.16, indicating that the pilot was likely impaired at the time of the accident.
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
- Fuel exhaustion during enroute (cruise) defining event
- Loss of engine power (total) during enroute (cruise)
- Off-field or emergency landing during emergency descent
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during emergency descent
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Planning/preparation › Fuel planning › Pilot
- cause Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware › Fluids › Fuel › Fluid management
- factor Personnel issues › Physical › Impairment/incapacitation › Alcohol › Pilot
- cause Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware › Fluids › Fuel › Fluid level
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor, commercial pilot, flight engineer
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 7,974 hours in all; 225 in this make and model; 20 in the last 90 days; 0 in the last 30 days; 3,200 as pilot in command; 4,250 on instruments
- Last flight review: February 13, 2013
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,878 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 31, 2014; 114 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,600 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Cont Motor O-200 (piston); 4,878 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: LOU Louisville KY at 10:11 pm
- Destination: ECG Elizabeth City NC
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 2,500 ft
- Temperature: 66°F (19°C), dew point 61°F (16°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 2:51 am from RDU, 15 miles away
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.