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Accidents · NTSB NYC84FNE04 · Preliminary: the investigation is not finished

Cessna 150H accident near Burlington, Connecticut, August 4, 1984

On August 4, 1984, a Cessna 150H, registered N6901S, was substantially damaged in an accident near Burlington, Connecticut. It was a personal 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
August 4, 1984
Place
Burlington, Connecticut
Type
Accident
Injuries
1 person was seriously injured.
Weather
visual conditions (good weather)
Aircraft
Cessna 150H · all 150Hs on the register
Registration
N6901S · no longer on the register · serial 15067601
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)

The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record

THE PLT REPORTED HE 'PICKED UP THE ACFT AFTER ANNUAL INSPECTION', PERFORMED A PREFLT, MADE A STANDARD RUN-UP & TOOK OFF IN CALM AIR CONDITIONS. AFTER CLMBING ABOUT 500 TO 600 FT, THE ENG LOST POWER & SUBSEQUENTLY, THE ACFT CRASH LANDED IN A MARSH. THE PLT WAS HOSPITALIZED FOR ABOUT 2 MOS WITH SERIOUS HEAD INJURIES. THE ACFT WAS NOT EQUIPPED WITH SHOULDERHARNESSES. AN EXAM OF THE ACFT REVEALED NO PREIMPACT PART MALFUNCTION OR FAILURE & THE ENG OPERATED NORMALLY WHEN CHECKED ON A TEST STAND. THE FUEL SHUTOFF VALVE WAS FOUND IN A NEARLY OFF POSITION. TWO OTHER CESSNA 150'S WERE CHECKED TO EVALUATE THEIR ENG PERFORMANCE WITH THEIR SHUTOFF VALVES POSITIONED AS FOUND IN N6901S. THEIR ENGS OPERATED NORMALLY AT IDLE RPM, BUT AT FULL THROTTLE, THE ENGS WOULD LOSE POWER AFTER APRX 21 SEC. THE MECHANIC, WHO PERFORMED THE 100 HR INSPECTION, REMEMBERED CHECKING THE VALVE, BUT DID NOT RECALL THE POSITION THAT HE LEFT IT IN. THE CESSNA SERVICE MANUAL RECOMMENDS THE VALVE BE SAFE TIED TO THE 'ON' POSITION.

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: 503 hours in all; 307 in this make and model; 31 in the last 90 days; 10 in the last 30 days; 455 as pilot in command
  • Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
  • Seat: left

The aircraft

  • Airframe total time: 3,792 hours
  • Last inspection: annual inspection, August 1, 1984; 0 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: 22B Burlington CT
  • Destination: 4B4 Meriden CT
  • Flight plan: none
  • Runway 0

Weather at the time

  • Light: dusk
  • Visibility: 10 statute miles
  • Sky: not recorded
  • Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)

Injuries

FatalSeriousMinorNone
Crew1

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.