Cessna 150H accident near Bruceton Mills, West Virginia, November 6, 2003
On November 6, 2003 at about 8:29 pm local time, a Cessna 150H, registered N23178, was substantially damaged in an accident near Bruceton Mills, West Virginia (Valley Point airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's physical impairment due to alcohol and his improper decision to attempt flight with a low cloud ceiling, low visibility, after consuming alcohol. A related factor in the accident was the low cloud ceiling.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 6, 2003 · about 8:29 pm local time
- Place
- Bruceton Mills, West Virginia · Valley Point · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 150H · all 150Hs on the register
- Registration
- N23178 · no longer on the register · serial 15068774
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
A witness observed the non-certificated pilot arrive at the airport, drinking a quart of beer that was approximately half full. The pilot appeared "sleepy eyed," and shortly after his arrival, fell asleep in a chair. Approximately 40 minutes later, the pilot woke up, "staggered" around, and then asked the witness if he was going to fly. The witness informed the pilot that the weather was too bad to fly (300-foot overcast ceiling; 0-1 mile visibility), and the pilot left the hangar. Several minutes later, the witness heard the accident airplane takeoff and fly for about 15 minutes. A second witness stated she could hear an airplane flying, but could only see its silhouette through the fog. The witness observed the airplane make two passes over a field in her backyard. During the second pass, the witness observed the airplane level just above the tree tops, and descending, with the engine running. She then heard the sound of the throttle being "cut," and thought the pilot was trying to make a landing to "get out of the weather." Shortly after, the airplane impacted a trailer in the witnesses backyard. Examination of the airplane and engine revealed no pre-impact mechanical anomalies. Examination of a handheld GPS unit, revealed the airplane departed from runway 26 at Valley Point Airport, and headed west. It then circled to the south, and then headed north for about 5-6 miles and then impacted the ground. Weather reported at an airport about 12 miles west of the accident site included an overcast cloud layer at 300 feet, and 1 1/2 miles visibility with light rain and mist. According to the pilot's autopsy report, the pilot had a blood alcohol level of 0.17%, and toxicological testing performed on the pilot, revealed ETHANOL in his blood and urine.
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
- Medical certificate: None
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,660 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 21, 2003; 6.4 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: WV29 Valley Point WV at 8:10 pm
- Destination: Bruceton Mills WV
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 0 knots
- Visibility: 1.5 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 300 ft
- Temperature: 52°F (11°C), dew point 52°F (11°C)
- Altimeter: 30.10 inHg
- Observation at 8:53 pm from MGW, 12 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.