Cessna 150K accident near Wilmington, Delaware, February 19, 1983
On February 19, 1983 at about 7:30 pm local time, a Cessna 150K, registered N5898G, was substantially damaged in an accident near Wilmington, Delaware (Greater Wilmington airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. 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 19, 1983 · about 7:30 pm local time
- Place
- Wilmington, Delaware · Greater Wilmington
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 150K · all 150Ks on the register
- Registration
- N5898G · registry record · serial 2071822
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
A C-130 AIRCREW WAS CLEARED TO TAXI TO THE RUN-UP AREA AT THE NORTH END OF THE ARPT FOR A RUN-UP. AT THAT TIME, THE WIND WAS REPORTED FROM 360 DEG AT 8 KTS. THE C-130 CREW STOPPED ON THE RUN-UP PAD FACING THE WIND & BEGAN A RUN-UP. IN THE MEANTIME, A CESSNA 150M, N5898G, LANDED ON RWY 1 & THE PLT TAXIED ONTO A PARALLEL TAXIWAY & PROCEEDED TOWARD THE C-130. THE CESSNA PLT STOPPED APRX 1000 FT SHORT OF THE C-130 & TRANSMITTED THAT HE WOULD LIKE TO WAIT UNTIL THE C-130 TURNED AROUND BEFORE TAXIING BEHIND IT. TOWER PSNL COORDINATED THE INFO WITH THE C-130 & THE CREW REPLIED 'OK, STANDBY PLEASE, WE'LL BE DONE MOMENTARILY.' SHORTLY AFTER THAT, THEY STATED 'THE SINGLE ENGINE'S CLEARED TO TAXI.' TOWER CLEARED THE CESSNA TO TAXI. THE CESSNA PLT ACKNOWLEDGED & BEGAN TAXIING. ABOUT 35 SEC LATER, THE C-130 CREW ASKED THE TOWER TO TELL THEM WHEN THEY COULD RESUME THEIR RUN-UP. THE TOWER ACKNOWLEDGED THEIR REQUEST. HOWEVER, AS THE CESSNAWAS MAKING A 135 DEG TURN, ABOUT 250 TO 300 FT BEHIND THE C-130, IT WAS BLOWN OVER.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 305 hours in all; 150 in this make and model; 3 in the last 90 days; 65 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 1, 1983; 1 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,600 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-200-A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: APB Aberdeen MD at 6:35 pm
- Destination: ILG Wilmington DE
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 360° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 57°F (14°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.