Cessna 150L accident near Sussex, New Jersey, April 16, 2024
On April 16, 2024 at about 3:45 pm local time, a 1974 Cessna 150L, registered N150RZ, was substantially damaged in an accident during approach (VFR go-around) near Sussex, New Jersey (Sussex Airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The student pilot’s failure to maintain airplane control during a go-around attempt in a gusting left crosswind, resulting in an aerodynamic stall and collision with terrain.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 16, 2024 · about 3:45 pm local time
- Place
- Sussex, New Jersey · Sussex Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 150L, built 1974 · all 150Ls on the register
- Registration
- N150RZ · registry record · serial 15074929
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The student pilot was performing a solo, cross-country flight. As he approached his destination airport, he checked the weather and reported that there were “no winds.” He set up for an approach to runway 3 since another airplane in the traffic pattern had completed an approach to the same runway. He flew the final approach at 70 mph. As he crossed the runway threshold, the airplane was about 5 feet to the right of centerline. He attempted to correct with left rudder; however, the airplane continued to drift to the right. He was no longer over the runway surface, so he elected to perform a go-around. He added full throttle and pushed on the yoke. The stall warning horn immediately activated, the airplane lost all lift, rotated to the left, and collided with the ground. The left wing hit the ground first, followed by the nose. The pilot egressed the airplane with minor injuries. An inspector with the Federal Aviation Administration reported substantial damage to both wings and the forward fuselage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. Airport surveillance video captured the event and was consistent with the pilot’s account. Although the pilot reported calm wind, recorded weather at the airport before and immediately after the accident indicated a gusting left crosswind.
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 with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during uncontrolled descent
- Loss of control in flight during approach (VFR go-around) defining event
- Aerodynamic stall/spin during approach (VFR go-around)
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Pitch control › Not attained/maintained
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Student/instructed pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: student
- Flight time: 106 hours in all; 18 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,158 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 1, 2023; 79 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,600 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-200-A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: POU Poughkeepsie NY at 3:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 3, 3,506 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 310° at 8 knots, gusting 19
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 63°F (17°C), dew point 30°F (-1°C)
- Altimeter: 30.16 inHg
- Observation at 11:53 am from KFWN
Weather report (METAR): METAR KFWN 161553Z AUTO 31008G19KT 10SM CLR 17/M01 A3016 RMK AO2 SLP211 T01721006
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
6 documents, released by the NTSB on June 21, 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.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 11 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Pilot's Written Statement | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Memorandum for Record - Conversation with FAA Inspector | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 4 | Memorandum for Record -weather Data Fwn | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 5 | Investigation Photographs | PDF, 4 pages | View Download |
| 6 | Airport Surveillance Camera Video | MOV file | Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, the folder of records gathered during the investigation, shown as the NTSB released them (the NTSB redacts some personal details first) and listed under the NTSB's own titles. This site's own text never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number ERA24LA182.