Cessna 150 accident near Arden, North Carolina, July 23, 2021
On July 23, 2021 at about 10:30 pm local time, a 1966 Cessna 150, registered N3059X, was substantially damaged in an accident during enroute (climb to cruise) near Arden, North Carolina (Asheville Rgnl airport). 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 inadequate inspection of the throttle control cable assembly, which resulted in a partial loss of engine power during cruise flight.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 23, 2021 · about 10:30 pm local time
- Place
- Arden, North Carolina · Asheville Rgnl · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 150 F, built 1966 · all 150s on the register
- Registration
- N3059X · no longer on the register · serial 15064459
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The student pilot was climbing through 5,100 feet mean sea level when the engine “went to idle.” He attempted to adjust the throttle setting; however, the tachometer continued to indicate 740 rpm. The pilot established best glide speed, declared an emergency, and performed a forced landing into a coal ash pit, during which the airplane nosed over, resulting in substantial damage. Examination of the engine revealed that the throttle control cable had separated from the throttle control lever and there was no spring installed. The securing hardware (bolt/washer/cotter pin) was not found. It is likely that the absence of the cotter pin was not noted during the annual inspection 15 hours before the accident, which allowed the bolt holding the throttle cable to the throttle control lever to loosen and depart during flight, resulting in an engine power reduction to idle.
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
- Loss of engine power (partial) during enroute (climb to cruise) defining event
- Off-field or emergency landing during enroute (climb to cruise)
- Aircraft maintenance event during prior to flight
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Engine fuel and control › Fuel controlling system › Not serviced/maintained
- Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Engine fuel and control › Fuel controlling system › Failure
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Maintenance › Scheduled/routine maintenance › Maintenance personnel
Pilot
- Certificate: student
- Flight time: 101 hours in all; 36 in this make and model; 12 in the last 90 days; 5 in the last 30 days; 22 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,429 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 17, 2021; 14.8 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,600 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-200-A (piston); 2,429 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: AVL Asheville NC at 10:17 pm
- Destination: SVH Statesville NC
- Flight plan: VFR
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 210° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 3,700 ft
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 68°F (20°C)
- Altimeter: 30.14 inHg
- Observation at 6:54 pm from AVL, 2 miles away
Weather report (METAR): KAVL 232254Z 21009KT 7SM BKN037 OVC047 28/20 A3014 RMK AO2 SLP181 T02780200
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
8 documents, released by the NTSB on June 22, 2023. 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, 11 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Memorandum of Record 6120 Signature Request | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Pilot Statement | PDF, 3 pages | View Download |
| 4 | FAA Inspector Statement | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 5 | Maintenance Log Excerpts | PDF, 6 pages | View Download |
| 6 | Investigative Photographs | PDF, 6 pages | View Download |
| 7 | Memorandum for Record - Airplane and Engine Examination | PDF, 3 pages | View Download |
| 8 | Release of Aircraft Wreckage, NTSB Form 6120.15 | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.