Cessna 150G accident near Hillsville, Virginia, February 27, 2023
On February 27, 2023 at about 9:56 pm local time, a 1966 Cessna 150G, registered N2991J, was substantially damaged in an accident during enroute near Hillsville, Virginia. 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 pilot’s continued visual flight rules flight into instrument meteorological conditions, resulting in controlled flight into terrain.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 27, 2023 · about 9:56 pm local time
- Place
- Hillsville, Virginia · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 150G, built 1966 · all 150Gs on the register
- Registration
- N2991J · no longer on the register · serial 15065791
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The instrument-rated pilot was conducting a personal, cross-country, visual flight rules flight and did not receive a formal weather briefing before departing. Flight track data showed that, after departure, the airplane proceeded direct to the destination airport for about 40 minutes. Then, after entering mountainous terrain, the airplane completed a descending 540° left turn and reversed course while continuing to descend at a rate of 250 ft per minute. The airplane impacted trees and terrain and came to rest in a wooded area. The reported weather conditions in the area around the time of the accident included less than 2 miles visibility and clouds about 255 ft above ground level (agl). Examination of the airframe and engine revealed no evidence of any preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions that would have precluded normal operation. Based on the cut branches located in the vicinity of the accident site, and the damage signatures observed on the propeller, the engine was likely producing power at the time of impact. While en route, the pilot likely encountered deteriorating weather conditions that obscured the mountainous terrain and as the pilot attempted to turn around and exit the deteriorating weather conditions the airplane gradually descended and struck trees and the terrain.
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
- Controlled flight into terrain or object (CFIT) during enroute
- VFR encounter with IMC during enroute defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Planning/preparation › Weather planning › Pilot
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Ceiling/visibility/precip › Below VFR minima › Decision related to condition
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: glider; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 10,000 hours in all
- Last flight review: March 20, 2022
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,850 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, January 17, 2023; 30.3 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,600 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-200A (piston); 3,911 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: BUY Burlington NC at 7:12 pm
- Destination: HLX Hillsville VA
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 2 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 200 ft
- Temperature: 48°F (9°C), dew point 48°F (9°C)
- Altimeter: 29.55 inHg
- Observation at 5:15 pm from HLX, 15 miles away
Weather report (METAR): METAR KHLX 272215Z AUTO 18007KT 2SM BR OVC002 09/09 A2955 RMK AO2 T00860085
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
14 documents, released by the NTSB on May 2, 2024. 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.
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.