Cessna 150L accident near Mount Holly, New Jersey, June 23, 2003
On June 23, 2003 at about 2:30 pm local time, a Cessna 150L, registered N18146, was substantially damaged in an accident near Mount Holly, New Jersey (South Jersey Regional airport). 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
A loss of engine power for undetermined reasons.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 23, 2003 · about 2:30 pm local time
- Place
- Mount Holly, New Jersey · South Jersey Regional · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 150L · all 150Ls on the register
- Registration
- N18146 · no longer on the register · serial 15073819
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot began the takeoff roll after a normal preflight inspection and engine run up. The airplane accelerated and lifted off normally; however, at an altitude of about 75 feet, the engine began to "cough, sputter and miss." The airplane cleared utility poles and wires located off the departure end of the runway, and the pilot then made a 90-degree turn in an attempt to return to the airport. After the turn, the engine "quit completely" and the pilot maneuvered the airplane for a forced landing to a soybean field. During the landing, the airplane's nose pitched down and impacted the ground in a nose low attitude. The airplane then flipped over. Examination of the airplane did not reveal any pre-impact mechanical malfunctions. Fuel observed in both wing fuel tanks, the gascolator and carburetor was absent of contamination. The pilot reported that the airplane was refueled and flown for about 2/10 of an hour, about 2 weeks prior to the accident. The airplane had been operated for about 7 hours since it's most recent annual inspection, which was performed about 4 months prior to the accident. .
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 4,000 hours in all
- Last flight review: February 22, 2002
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,711 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 14, 2003; 5 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,600 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-200A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: VAY Mount Holly NJ at 2:25 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 26, 3,911 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 320° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 59°F (15°C)
- Altimeter: 29.82 inHg
- Observation at 2:54 pm from VAY, 1 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.