Cessna 150 accident near Culpeper, Virginia, June 8, 2003
On June 8, 2003 at about 12:30 pm local time, a Cessna 150, registered N92WA, was substantially damaged in an accident near Culpeper, Virginia (Culpeper Regional Airport). It was an instructional 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 pilot's failure to maintain directional control on the runway during takeoff.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 8, 2003 · about 12:30 pm local time
- Place
- Culpeper, Virginia · Culpeper Regional Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 150 · all 150s on the register
- Registration
- N92WA · registry record · serial 15073770
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
During the takeoff roll, the student pilot "lost control" of the airplane, and could not maintain centerline alignment. The airplane ran off the side of the runway, and came to rest in a ditch. The student pilot reported there were no wind gusts, and he experienced no mechanical anomalies with the airplane.
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
Dual student
- Certificate: student
- Flight time: 50 hours in all; 26 in this make and model; 1 in the last 90 days; 1 in the last 30 days; 14 as pilot in command; 36 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,034 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 6, 2003; 1 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: CJR Culpeper VA at 12:30 pm
- Destination: CJR
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 04, 4,002 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 020° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 1,100 ft
- Temperature: 63°F (17°C), dew point 59°F (15°C)
- Altimeter: 29.90 inHg
- Observation at 12:10 pm from HEF, 20 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.