Cessna 150 accident near Columbia, South Carolina, August 2, 1997
On August 2, 1997 at about 4:10 pm local time, a Cessna 150, registered N3517J, was substantially damaged in an accident near Columbia, South Carolina. It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The improper rebuild/remanufacture of the fuel line (obstructed at both ends) that runs between the carburetor and sediment bowl by an unknown person. This resulted in a loss of engine power due to fuel starvation, forced landing to non-suitable terrain, and an in-flight collision with a nonresidential building.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 2, 1997 · about 4:10 pm local time
- Place
- Columbia, South Carolina · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 150 · all 150s on the register
- Registration
- N3517J · no longer on the register · serial 15061217
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The student pilot was on initial takeoff climb at about 200 feet when the their was a reduction in engine power. The CFI took over the flight control, lowered the nose looking for a forced landing area. The airplane collided with furniture storage building, nosed over inverted, and a postcrash fire ensued. Examination of the airframe and flight control system revealed no evidence of a precrash mechanical failure or malfunction. Examination of the fuel system revealed a 6 inch fuel hose that runs between the carburetor and the sediment bowl was about 50 percent obstructed at both ends.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,240 hours in all; 50 in this make and model; 2,210 as pilot in command; 265 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 29, 1996; 17 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,600 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-200A (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: CUB at 4:09 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 64°F (18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 3:56 pm from CAE
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 |
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.