Cessna 150L accident near Everglades City, Florida, February 24, 1991
On February 24, 1991 at about 1:30 am local time, a Cessna 150L, registered N1469Q, was substantially damaged in an accident near Everglades City, Florida. It was an instructional 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
INADEQUATE SUPERVISION BY THE FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR. FACTORS WERE: DARK NIGHT CONDITION, PENETRATION OF A CLOUD, AND SPATIAL DISORIENTATION RESULTING IN A SPIRAL.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 24, 1991 · about 1:30 am local time
- Place
- Everglades City, Florida
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 150L · all 150Ls on the register
- Registration
- N1469Q · no longer on the register · serial 15072769
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING THE RETURN LEG OF A STUDENT PLT SOLO CROSS COUNTRY AT NIGHT, THE STUDENT PLT FLEW INTO A CLOUD & BECAME DISORIENTED. THE ACFT ENTERED A SPIRAL & DESCENDED UNTIL IMPACT WITH TERRAIN. THERE WERE NO GROUND REFERENCE LIGHTS IN THE AREA OF THE LOSS OF CONTROL. THE STUDENT PLT DEPARTED ON THE FIRST LEG (1 HR FLT) OF A TWO LEG CROSS COUNTRY FLT 47 MINUTES BEFORE THE OFFICIAL END OF TWILIGHT. HIS CFI REPORTEDLY REVIEWED HIS FLT PLANNING BUT DID NOT SIGN THE STUDENT'S LOGBOOK.
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: student
- Flight time: 27 hours in all; 27 in this make and model; 27 in the last 90 days; 10 in the last 30 days; 8 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,600 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-200-A (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Trans-American Airways, INC.
The flight
- Departed from: APF Naples FL
- Destination: TMB Miami FL
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 330° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 64°F (18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
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.