Cessna 150 accident near Statesville, North Carolina, February 11, 2018
On February 11, 2018 at about 6:00 pm local time, a 1968 Cessna 150, registered N23398, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing near Statesville, North Carolina (Statesville Rgnl airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s failure to maintain crosswind correction during landing and the flight instructor’s delayed remedial action. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s and flight instructor’s decision to land with gusting tailwinds.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 11, 2018 · about 6:00 pm local time
- Place
- Statesville, North Carolina · Statesville Rgnl · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 150 H, built 1968 · all 150s on the register
- Registration
- N23398 · registry record · serial 15068928
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot receiving instruction's attorney reported that the pilot was performing routine pattern work; during landing, the airplane encountered turbulence and wind gusts. He added that, a strong gust of wind blew the right wing up, which pushed the airplane to the left side of the runway. Subsequently, the airplane came to rest partially off the runway. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the empennage. The attorney reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The automated weather observation system located at the accident airport reported that, about the time of the accident, the wind was from 200° at 12 knots, gusting to 18 knots. The pilot landed on runway 10.
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
- Other weather encounter during landing
- Loss of control in flight during landing defining event
- Loss of control on ground during landing
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Crosswind correction › Not attained/maintained
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Student/instructed pilot
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Delayed action › Instructor/check pilot
- factor Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Decision making/judgment › Student/instructed pilot
- factor Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Decision making/judgment › Instructor/check pilot
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Tailwind › Decision related to condition
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Crosswind › Decision related to condition
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Gusts › Decision related to condition
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 248 hours in all; 204 in this make and model; 10.1 in the last 90 days; 240 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: July 4, 2016
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Flight instructor
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane
- Flight time: 31,230 hours in all; 565 in this make and model; 65 in the last 90 days; 47 in the last 30 days; 30,990 as pilot in command; 4,115 on instruments
- Last flight review: November 8, 2017
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,562 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 1, 2017
- Maximum gross weight: 1,600 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Cont Motor O-200 SERIES (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SVH Statesville NC at 5:30 pm
- Destination: SVH Statesville NC
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 10, 7,003 ft by 100 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 200° at 12 knots, gusting 18
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 2,000 ft
- Temperature: 66°F (19°C), dew point 63°F (17°C)
- Altimeter: 29.94 inHg
- Observation at 6:55 pm from KSVH
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Other NTSB records under N23398 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.