Cessna 150 accident near Wintergreen, Virginia, March 31, 2001
On March 31, 2001 at about 9:00 pm local time, a Cessna 150, registered N5433Q, was substantially damaged in an accident near Wintergreen, Virginia. It was a personal 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 pilot's improper decision to continue the flight into deteriorating weather.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 31, 2001 · about 9:00 pm local time
- Place
- Wintergreen, Virginia · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 150 · all 150s on the register
- Registration
- N5433Q · no longer on the register · serial 15073333
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot obtained three weather briefings. During the last briefing, which was conducted about 0845, he was advised of marginal visual flight rule conditions developing about 1900, along his return route of flight. The pilot then departed and flew to SHD without incident. About 1520 the pilot, without getting an updated weather briefing, loaded his passenger and departing for the trip home. About 8 to 10 minutes prior to the accident, the pilot started to encounter deteriorating weather. He had visual contact with the ground, but reduced visibility forward. About 3 minutes before the accident, the pilot made a turn to the west to maintain visual meteorological conditions (VMC). During the turn, the pilot lost all outside visual reference. He leveled the wings and started a climb. The airplane re entered VMC shortly afterwards, but was not in a position to avoid the approaching terrain. The airplane then impacted an unoccupied house and came to a stop.
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: 160 hours in all; 130 in this make and model; 11 in the last 90 days; 5 in the last 30 days; 110 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: March 9, 2001
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,508.9 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 4, 2000; 67.3 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,600 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-200-A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SHD Staunton/Waynes VA at 8:45 pm
- Destination: 3W6 Bladenboro NC
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 030° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 9,000 ft
- Temperature: 63°F (17°C), dew point 57°F (14°C)
- Altimeter: 29.77 inHg
- Observation at 8:20 pm from FVX, 45 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.