Cessna 150J accident near Williamson, New York, February 25, 2003
On February 25, 2003 at about 4:50 pm local time, a Cessna 150J, registered N51126, was substantially damaged in an accident near Williamson, New York (Williamson-Sodus 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 failure to maintain proper runway alignment during the takeoff roll. A factor was the snow-covered runway.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 25, 2003 · about 4:50 pm local time
- Place
- Williamson, New York · Williamson-Sodus Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 150J · all 150Js on the register
- Registration
- N51126 · registry record · serial 15069782
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
As the pilot taxied onto the runway, he could not see the centerline because the runway was covered with 3 inches of snow. He applied full power for the takeoff and during the takeoff roll, the airplane's left main landing gear caught the edge of a snow bank, and the airplane veered off the left side of the runway. The pilot stated he was unaware of his position to the left of the runway centerline during the takeoff, and reported no mechanical anomalies with the airplane.
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: 123 hours in all; 4 in this make and model; 4 in the last 90 days; 4 in the last 30 days
- Last flight review: February 22, 2003
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-200 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 3G7 Williamson NY at 4:50 pm
- Destination: 3G7 Williamson NY
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 28, 3,800 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 300° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 9 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 2,900 ft; a few clouds at 2,300 ft
- Temperature: 14°F (-10°C), dew point 1°F (-17°C)
- Altimeter: 30.46 inHg
- Observation at 4:54 pm from ROC, 25 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.