Cessna 150 accident near Jensen Beach, Florida, July 21, 1990
On July 21, 1990, a Cessna 150, registered N8761S, was destroyed in an accident near Jensen Beach, Florida. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
FUEL EXHAUSTION DUE TO IMPROPER PLANNING BY THE PILOT.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 21, 1990
- Place
- Jensen Beach, Florida · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 150 · all 150s on the register
- Registration
- N8761S · no longer on the register · serial 15062061
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT STATED THAT WHILE HE WAS IN A VFR DESCENT FOR LANDING, PASSING THROUGH 1400 FEET AGL THE AIRPLANE EXPERIENCED TOTAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER. ENGINE RESTART WAS INITIATED WITH NEGATIVE RESULTS. INSPECTION OF THE FUEL GUAGES BY PLT INDICATED LEFT FUEL TANK WAS EMPTY, AND RIGHT FUEL TANK INDICATED 1/8 TANK. PLT STATED THERE WAS INSUFFICIENT ALTITUDE TO LAND AT THE AIRFIELD. EMERGENCY LANDING WAS MADE ON A DIKE. TO CLEAR BARRIERS ON FINAL APPROACH, THE PLT APPLIED AFT PRESSURE ON THE FLIGHT CONTROLS. THE AIRPLANE STALLED AND COLLIDED WITH THE GROUND. THE AIRPLANE WAS DESTROYED. THE PLT RECEIVED MINOR INJURIES. INSPECTION OF THE AIRPLANE BY THE REGISTERED OWNER REVEALED THE FUEL TANKS WERE EMPTY AND NOT RUPTURED. THE HOBBS METER INDICATED THE AIRPLANE HAD BEEN OPERATED FOR 4.0 HOURS. THE PILOT STATED TO THE NTSB INVESTIGATOR-IN-CHARGE AND LAW ENFORCEMENT PERSONNEL THAT HE EXPERIENCED FUEL EXHAUSTION AFTER ENCOUNTERING STRONG HEADWINDS.
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: 132 hours in all; 19 in this make and model; 114 in the last 90 days; 45 in the last 30 days; 43 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 1,600 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-200-A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: LEE Leesburg FL at 10:30 pm
- Destination: SUA Stuart FL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 110° at 11 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; scat at 30,000 ft
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 75°F (24°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 11:50 pm from PBI, 350 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.