Cessna 150 accident near St. Augustine, Florida, July 11, 2025
On July 11, 2025 at about 7:45 pm local time, a 1965 Cessna 150, registered N8503G, was substantially damaged in an accident during approach near St. Augustine, Florida (Northeast Florida 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 pilot’s inadequate fuel planning, which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 11, 2025 · about 7:45 pm local time
- Place
- St. Augustine, Florida · Northeast Florida 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 1965 · all 150s on the register
- Registration
- N8503G · registry record · serial 15062603
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot stated that he had just purchased the airplane and was flying it home on a long cross-country flight, with a planned fuel stop. During the flight, he experienced higher than planned headwinds and was rerouted for weather. He added that he did not calculate the additional fuel usage for the flight that was over 3.5 hours. During the approach to the planned fuel-stop airport, on short final for the runway, the engine lost all power. The pilot performed a forced landing on railroad tracks, resulting in substantial damage to both wings, the nose landing gear, and firewall. Examination by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed both fuel tanks were empty.
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 approach defining event
- Loss of engine power (total) during approach
- Off-field or emergency landing during emergency descent
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Planning/preparation › Fuel planning › Pilot
- Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware › Fluids › Fuel › Fluid management
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 259 hours in all; 26 in this make and model; 91 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: April 21, 2025
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,805 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 1, 2025
- Maximum gross weight: 1,600 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continenatal O-200-A (piston); 1,166 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: GMU Greenville SC at 4:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 20, 2,609 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 120° at 14 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 4,700 ft
- Temperature: 88°F (31°C), dew point 77°F (25°C)
- Altimeter: 30.07 inHg
- Observation at 3:56 pm from SGJ
Weather report (METAR): KSGJ 111956Z 12014KT 10SM FEW047 31/25 A3007 RMK AO2 LTG DSNT SW SLP183 T03110250 $
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Photographs from the investigation 2 pictures from the NTSB's docket, as the NTSB released them
The NTSB's photographs with the NTSB's captions, at screen size. Open a picture to see it full size or to report one that should not be shown.
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
3 documents, released by the NTSB on November 14, 2025. 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, 10 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Memorandum for Record A�� Telephone Interview, Pilot | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Investigation Photographs | PDF, 3 pages · our copy | 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.