Cessna 150G accident near Raleigh, North Carolina, April 19, 1997
On April 19, 1997 at about 8:15 pm local time, a Cessna 150G, registered N3235X, was substantially damaged in an accident near Raleigh, North Carolina (Knightdale airport). 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 maintain proper runway alignment during the attempted landing and go-around. Factors relating to the accident were: the gusty crosswind condition, and proximity of trees to the runway.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 19, 1997 · about 8:15 pm local time
- Place
- Raleigh, North Carolina · Knightdale · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 150G · all 150Gs on the register
- Registration
- N3235X · no longer on the register · serial 15064635
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot said he was approaching runway 01, and as he began to flare, 'a big gust of wind blew across the runway.' The airplane started to drift off the centerline, and the pilot attempted to avoid trees by applying 'full power' and gaining airspeed. The airplane continued to drift, and struck trees along side the runway. A witness said, '...it was gusty and the wind was out of the west.' The witness heard power being applied to the airplane's engine and thought the pilot was 'going around.' He watched the airplane and said 'he had a high pitch attitude...the wind started blowing him off the runway...[the airplane] continued to drift...and hit one of the pine trees...he still had power on....' The wind was reported to be from 260 degrees at 10 gusting 16 knots.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 564 hours in all; 457 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 1,600 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-200-A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 1, 3,000 ft by 36 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 260° at 12 knots, gusting 16
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 14,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 63°F (17°C), dew point 37°F (3°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 7:51 pm from RDU, 5 miles away
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.