Cessna 150L accident near Hardwick Township, New Jersey, March 30, 2021
On March 30, 2021 at about 6:32 pm local time, a 1970 Cessna 150L, registered N6544G, was substantially damaged in an accident during enroute near Hardwick Township, New Jersey. It was a personal 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 inadequate prefight inspection, during which he failed to detect water contamination in the fuel system, which resulted in a total loss of engine power.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 30, 2021 · about 6:32 pm local time
- Place
- Hardwick Township, New Jersey · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 150L NO SERIES, built 1970 · all 150Ls on the register
- Registration
- N6544G · no longer on the register · serial 15072044
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
According to the pilot, he had recently purchased the airplane and noted that the fuel tanks were contaminated with water when it was purchased. He purchased and a mechanic installed new fuel tank sumps, fuel cap gaskets, and several other parts. Three days prior to the accident, he inspected the airplane, that was tied down outside, and sumped the fuel tanks, which initially revealed about 1 tablespoon of water. He continued to sump the fuel tanks until only fuel came out, and then performed an engine run-up without any anomalies. On the day of the accident, he performed a preflight inspection of the airplane and observed about 1 tablespoon of water in the strainer from the left tank. He continued sumping the left tank until only fuel was visible in the strainer. He started the engine, taxied, and performed an engine run-up for several minutes with no anomalies noted. He performed a normal take-off and while turning the airplane on course to the destination airport the engine experienced a total loss of power. The pilot elected to perform a forced landing to a field, and during the landing, the airplane struck a tree resulting in substantial damage to the fuselage, wings, and empennage. Postaccident examination of the wreckage revealed that the gascolator and carburetor contained water. The carburetor was drained, reinstalled, and an engine run was performed without any anomalies.
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
- Collision during takeoff/land during landing
- Aircraft inspection event during prior to flight
- Fuel contamination during enroute defining event
- Off-field or emergency landing during landing
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware › Fluids › Fuel › Fluid condition
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Inspection › Preflight inspection › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; multi-engine sea; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 6,518 hours in all; 11 in this make and model; 35 in the last 90 days; 27 in the last 30 days
- Last flight review: April 23, 2020
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 8,303.1 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 1, 2021; 1 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,600 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental Motors O-200A (piston); 6,816 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 1N7 Blairstown NJ at 6:25 pm
- Destination: FWN Sussex NJ
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 170° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 63°F (17°C), dew point 32°F (0°C)
- Altimeter: 30.30 inHg
- Observation at 2:25 pm from FWN, 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
4 documents, released by the NTSB on August 3, 2021. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 12 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Pilot Interview Summary | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Memorandum of Record - FAA Inspector | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 4 | Investigative Photographs | PDF, 3 pages | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
Other NTSB records under N6544G the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.