Cessna 150 accident near Bayport, New York, April 24, 1982
On April 24, 1982 at about 12:30 pm local time, a Cessna 150, registered N22550, was destroyed in an accident near Bayport, New York (Edwards 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
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
- April 24, 1982 · about 12:30 pm local time
- Place
- Bayport, New York · Edwards
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 150 · all 150s on the register
- Registration
- N22550 · no longer on the register · serial 15068355
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING TAKEOFF, THE ENGINE BEGAN TO LOSE POWER AT ABOUT 50 FT AGL AND THEN BEGAN TO VIBRATE. THE PILOT CHECKED THAT THE FUEL SELECTOR SWITCH WAS ON. HE TURNED AND ATTEMPTED TO RETURN TO THE AIRPORT; HOWEVER, HE WAS UNABLE TO MAINTAIN ALTITUDE. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE AIRCRAFT CRASHED INTO TREES WHILE THE PILOT WAS AVOIDING A HOUSE. AN INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT THE PILOT HAD USED A MIXTURE OF AVIATION FUEL AND AUTOMOBILE GASOLINE. HE REPORTED THAT ON THE DAY OF THE ACCIDENT, HE USED A MIXTURE CONTAINING ABOUT 50 PERCENT AUTOMOBILE FUEL. ALSO, HE COMMENTED THAT HE DID THIS QUITE OFTEN AND NEVER HAD A PROBLEM. ADDITIONALLY BEFORE TAKEOFF, THE PILOT HAD REPLACED HIS SPARK PLUGS WITH USED PLUGS THAT HE HAD CLEANED. WHEN TESTED, THREE OF THE EIGHT PLUGS WOULD NOT FIRE.
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
- Flight time: 281 hours in all; 280 in this make and model; 40 in the last 90 days; 281 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,005 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 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: Bayport NY at 12:29 pm
- Destination: Bayport NY
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 225° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; clear
- Temperature: 158°F (70°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.