Cessna 150M accident near Knightdale, North Carolina, August 13, 1995
On August 13, 1995 at about 2:15 pm local time, a Cessna 150M, registered N704ZQ, was substantially damaged in an accident near Knightdale, North Carolina (Raleigh East airport). It was a personal 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 TO MAINTAIN RUNWAY ALIGNMENT. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO EXECUTE A GO-AROUND WHEN HE SAW THAT HE WOULD NOT LAND ON THE RUNWAY.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 13, 1995 · about 2:15 pm local time
- Place
- Knightdale, North Carolina · Raleigh East · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 150M · all 150Ms on the register
- Registration
- N704ZQ · no longer on the register · serial 60745
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT STATED HE KEPT THE AIRPLANE IN A SLIP UNTIL JUST PRIOR TO TOUCHDOWN. WHEN HE STRAIGHTENED THE AIRPLANE FOR ALIGNMENT WITH THE RUNWAY HE WAS OVER THE EDGE OF THE RUNWAY AND TOUCHED DOWN OFF OF THE RUNWAY. THE PILOT STATED HE LOST CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE ON THE GROUND AND IT GROUND LOOPED.
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: 162 hours in all; 162 in this make and model; 11 in the last 90 days; 3 in the last 30 days; 71 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,324 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 1, 1995; 10 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,600 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-200 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: W17 at 1:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 19, 3,000 ft by 22 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 340° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 6 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 88°F (31°C), dew point 73°F (23°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 1:50 pm from RDU, 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.