Cessna 150H accident near Augusta, Georgia, May 20, 2008
On May 20, 2008 at about 7:46 pm local time, a Cessna 150H, registered N7050S, was substantially damaged in an accident during taxi near Augusta, Georgia (Augusta Regional 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 decision to taxi during thunderstorm activity and his failure to maintain aircraft control. Contributing to the accident were thunderstorms and wind gusts.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 20, 2008 · about 7:46 pm local time
- Place
- Augusta, Georgia · Augusta Regional Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 150H · all 150Hs on the register
- Registration
- N7050S · registry record · serial 15067750
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot taxied the airplane to the active runway, observing thunderstorms approaching from a distance. As precipitation became heavy and hailstones began to fall, he requested to taxi back. After being cleared, he continued to the ramp area and encountered a strong wind. The airplane began to rock, tipping the right wing downward on the taxiway surface. The hail became so severe that the pilot could not see out the windshield, nor could he control the airplane. The airplane came to rest inverted approximately 65 feet off the taxiway. The Meteorological Terminal Aviation Routine Weather Reports around the time of the accident indicated winds at 11 knots, gusting to 18 with heavy thunderstorm and rain activity. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures.
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
- Loss of control on ground during taxi defining event
The NTSB's findings
- factor Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Convective weather › Thunderstorm › Contributed to outcome
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Decision making/judgment › Pilot
- factor Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Gusts › Contributed to outcome
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 220 hours in all; 115 in this make and model; 17 in the last 90 days; 8 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 1
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,353 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 1, 2007
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-200A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: KAGS Augusta GA
- Destination: 3M3 Collegedale TN
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 280° at 11 knots, gusting 18
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 6,000 ft
- Temperature: 86°F (30°C), dew point 63°F (17°C)
- Altimeter: 29.57 inHg
- Observation at 3:53 pm from KAGS
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight 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.