Cessna 150J accident near Hyannis, Massachusetts, August 24, 2001
On August 24, 2001 at about 5:00 am local time, a Cessna 150J, registered N5591G, was substantially damaged in an accident near Hyannis, Massachusetts (Barnstable Municipal Airport). It was a personal 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 inadequate preflight inspection, which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to fuel contamination.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 24, 2001 · about 5:00 am local time
- Place
- Hyannis, Massachusetts · Barnstable Municipal Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 150J · all 150Js on the register
- Registration
- N5591G · no longer on the register · serial 15071091
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot performed a preflight inspection of the airplane and drained fuel samples from both wing sump drains, and the fuselage sump drain. The pilot observed about 1/4-inch of water, in a 4-inch sample of fuel taken from the right wing fuel sump drain. The pilot stated that he did not drain the fuel again to determine if the water was out of the tank. The pilot then performed a run-up inspection and initiated a takeoff. The airplane obtained an altitude of 300 feet, when the engine "stopped completely." The pilot then performed a forced landing into trees. Examination of the airplane revealed corrosion on the right wing fuel cap, and inside the right fuel tank. The carburetor was disassembled and the carburetor bowl was "about 1/3 full of water," and contaminated by a "brownish substance." Thumb compression and valve train continuity was confirmed to all cylinders by manual rotation of the propeller. The airplane was last fueled about 1 month prior to the accident with 16.7 gallons, and "a significant amount of rain" had fallen in the area since then.
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
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 650 hours in all; 250 in this make and model; 5 in the last 90 days; 4 in the last 30 days
- Last flight review: July 7, 2001
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,560 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 5, 2000
- Maximum gross weight: 1,600 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-200A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: HYA Hyannis MA at 4:50 am
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 15, 5,252 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 270° at 11 knots
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 12,000 ft; scat at 9,500 ft
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 70°F (21°C)
- Altimeter: 29.93 inHg
- Observation at 4:56 am from HYA
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
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.
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.