Cessna 150M accident near Olive Branch, Mississippi, April 21, 1989
On April 21, 1989 at about 8:15 pm local time, a Cessna 150M, registered N51344, was substantially damaged in an accident near Olive Branch, Mississippi. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
FUEL EXHAUSTION CAUSED BY THE PILOT EXCEEDING THE FUEL ENDURANCE OF THE AIRPLANE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 21, 1989 · about 8:15 pm local time
- Place
- Olive Branch, Mississippi · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 150M · all 150Ms on the register
- Registration
- N51344 · registry record · serial 15069940
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT WAS NEAR HIS HOME BASE IN HIS JUST ACQUIRED ACFT AFTER A 4 HR X-COUNTRY FLT FROM ATLANTA WHEN THE ENG QUIT AT AN ALT OF 4,000 FT. THE PLT ATTEMPTED A FORCED LANDING IN AN OPEN FIELD, BUT HOOKED A WING TIP AND THE ACFT CARTWHEELED. AN EXAM OF THE ACFT REVEALED ONLY ABOUT 1 GALLON OF UNUSABLE FUEL REMAINED IN THE FUEL TANKS. THE PLT STATED THAT HE MUST HAVE RUN OUT OF GAS.
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: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,000 hours in all; 30 in the last 90 days; 6 in the last 30 days; 1,900 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 4, 1988; 8 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,600 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-200-A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 4A7 Hampton GA
- Destination: OLV Olive Branch MS
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 330° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 12 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 37°F (3°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 7:50 pm from MEM, 15 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.