Cessna 150D accident near Louisburg, North Carolina, June 23, 2002
On June 23, 2002 at about 5:00 pm local time, a Cessna 150D, registered N4313U, was substantially damaged in an accident near Louisburg, North Carolina (Ball Airport). It was an other work-use 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 failure of the pilot-in-command to follow emergency procedures after smelling smoke that resulted in an electrical fire, damage to the airplane, and a forced landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 23, 2002 · about 5:00 pm local time
- Place
- Louisburg, North Carolina · Ball Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 150D · all 150Ds on the register
- Registration
- N4313U · no longer on the register · serial 15060313
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Other work-use flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
According to the pilot, he had dropped a glider at 2,500 feet above ground level, and was returning to the airport. He turned base to final about 1/2 mile from the airport when he noted smoke coming from the right side instrument panel. As he got closer to the ground the smoke became flames. He landed, stopped and exited the airplane. The investigation revealed that the insulation on the electric wiring from the master relay on the firewall, had burned along the entire wire. The wire had no in line circuit protection other than the airplane's master switch, and in this case the pilot did not turn the master switch off until the airplane stopped.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 1,009 hours in all; 80 in this make and model; 8 in the last 90 days; 4 in the last 30 days; 872 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: April 27, 2002
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,124 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 1, 2001; 50 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,600 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-A1A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 79NC Louisburg NC at 4:48 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 18, 2,459 ft by 40 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 080° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 4,300 ft
- Temperature: 86°F (30°C), dew point 63°F (17°C)
- Altimeter: 30.26 inHg
- Observation at 4:44 pm from KHNZ, 24 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.