Cessna 150L accident near Shelburne, Vermont, October 21, 2005
On October 21, 2005 at about 7:40 pm local time, a Cessna 150L, registered N1693Q, was substantially damaged in an accident near Shelburne, Vermont (Shelburne Airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's inadequate preflight planning, which resulted in fuel exhaustion and a total loss of engine power.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 21, 2005 · about 7:40 pm local time
- Place
- Shelburne, Vermont · Shelburne Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 150L · all 150Ls on the register
- Registration
- N1693Q · no longer on the register · serial 15072993
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot departed his home airport to take aerial photographs of the end of the season tree color changes. After 4.2 hours of flight time, which included an intermediate stop at another airport, the engine experienced a total loss of power. The pilot subsequently performed a forced landing to a field, resulting in substantial damage to the airplane. During a postaccident examination of the airplane, no preimpact fuel leaks were discovered, and no evidence of fuel spillage was identified at the scene. Approximately 2 quarts of fuel was recovered from the fuel system. There was no record of the airplane being refueled at the intermediate airport.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 740 hours in all; 465 in this make and model; 9 in the last 90 days; 8 in the last 30 days; 694 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: January 1, 2004
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,998 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 1, 2005; 82 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,600 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-200-A (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Shelburne Flying Club
The flight
- Departed from: MVL Morrisville VT at 6:10 pm
- Destination: VT8 Shelburne VT
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 1, 2,500 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 010° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 50°F (10°C), dew point 32°F (0°C)
- Altimeter: 30.04 inHg
- Observation at 7:54 pm from BTV, 7 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.