Cessna 150J accident near Lantana, Florida, May 11, 1991
On May 11, 1991 at about 3:08 pm local time, a Cessna 150J, registered N20PC, was substantially damaged in an accident near Lantana, Florida. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO PERFORM FUEL CONSUMPTION CALCULATIONS WHICH RESULTED IN FUEL EXHAUSTION DUE TO AN INADEQUATE FUEL SUPPLY. ALSO, INADVERTENT STALL/MUSH BY THE PILOT DURING THE FORCED LANDING. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS AN INCORRECT FUEL GAUGE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 11, 1991 · about 3:08 pm local time
- Place
- Lantana, Florida · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 150J · all 150Js on the register
- Registration
- N20PC · registry record · serial 1507116
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE RETURNING TO THE DEPARTURE ARPT ON THE SECOND LEG OF A CROSS-COUNTRY FLT, THE ENG QUIT DUE TO FUEL EXHAUSTION. THE PLT ATTEMPTED TO LAND IN A FIELD BUT WAS HIGH. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO CLEAR POWER LINES THAT WERE AHEAD, THE ACFT STALLED & COLLIDED WITH AN ORANGE TREE, THEN THE GROUND. THE PLT STATED THAT HE DID NOT PERFORM FUEL CONSUMPTION CALCULATIONS FOR BOTH FLTS. HE ALSO STATED THAT ONE OF THE FUEL QUANTITY GAUGES WAS INACCURATE.
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: 76 hours in all; 50 in this make and model; 41 in the last 90 days; 18 in the last 30 days; 48 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,520 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 1, 1991; 12 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,600 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-200A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: PGD Punta Gorda FL at 1:50 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 060° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 2,900 ft
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.