Cessna 150G accident near Erwinna, Pennsylvania, February 27, 1982
On February 27, 1982 at about 6:45 pm local time, a Cessna 150G, registered N3318J, was substantially damaged in an accident near Erwinna, Pennsylvania (Vansant airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 27, 1982 · about 6:45 pm local time
- Place
- Erwinna, Pennsylvania · Vansant · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 150G · all 150Gs on the register
- Registration
- N3318J · no longer on the register · serial 15066018
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THIS WAS THE STUDENT'S FIRST SOLO IN POWERED AIRCRAFT. HE HELD A PRIVATE PILOT CERTIFICATE WITH A GLIDER RATING. HIS TAKEOFF AND TRAFFIC PATTERN APPEARED NORMAL UNTIL THE LAST PART OF HIS FINAL APPROACH FOR LANDING. ABOUT 600 FT SHORT OF THE RUNWAY, THE ENGINE SOUNDED AS THOUGH A LITTLE POWER HAD BEEN ADDED. JUST SHORT OF THE RUNWAY, THE AIRCRAFT NOSED INTO THE GROUND. LATER, THE STUDENT STATED THAT HE THOUGHT HE WAS GOING TO STALL WHEN HE WAS ABOUT 30 FT AGL ON FINAL APPROACH. HE REPORTED THAT HE PUT THE NOSE DOWN, BUT DID NOT FLARE OUT. HE VAGUELY REMEMBERED THE OCCURRENCES JUST BEFORE IMPACT, AND DID NOT RECALL ADDING POWER OR HEARING A STALL WARNING HORN.
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: rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 22 hours in all; 5 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,199 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 96 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,600 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-200-A (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Posey Aviation, INC.
The flight
- Departed from: 9N1 Erwinna PA at 1:40 pm
- Destination: 9N1 Erwinna PA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 25, 3,000 ft by 120 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 200° at 2 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 20,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 106°F (41°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 1:55 pm from NXX, 18 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.