Cessna 150M accident near Providence, Rhode Island, October 26, 1984
On October 26, 1984 at about 10:43 pm local time, a Cessna 150M, registered N45397, was destroyed in an accident near Providence, Rhode Island. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
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
- October 26, 1984 · about 10:43 pm local time
- Place
- Providence, Rhode Island
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 150M · all 150Ms on the register
- Registration
- N45397 · no longer on the register · serial 15076904
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
ACFT COLLIDED WITH THE WATERS OF NARRAGANSETT BAY AT A LOCATION APRX 1 MILE FROM BOYS TOWN ARPT (DESTINATION OF RECORD),IN WATER APRX 8 FT DEEP. THE WX WAS IMC AT DEPARTURE (1845 EDT) AND THE ATP INSTRUMENT RATED PLT HAD REQUESTED AND BEEN GRANTED A SPECIAL VFR CLEARANCE OUT THE CONTROL ZONE TO THE SOUTHEAST. THE CONTROLLER LATER STATED THAT HE AND ANOTHER FAA EMPLOYEE ON DUTY HAD DISCUSSED THE REQUEST FOR SPECIAL CLEARANCE AND HAD EXPRESSED SKEPTICISM AT A SVFR OPERATION IN THE EXISTING WX CONDITIONS. ATTEMPTS BY THE FAA CONTROLLERS TO OBTAIN MORE CURRENT WX AT QUONSET STATE & NEWPORT STATE ARPTS WERE UNSUCCESSFUL. QUONSET TWR DID ACKNOWLEDGE THAT A 1 AND 1/2 MILE VISIBILITY EXISTED AT THE ARPT AT TIME OF ACKNOWLEDGEMENT. THIS INFO WAS PASSED TO THE PLT OF N45397 PRIOR TO DEPARTURE. THE ACFT WAS TRACKED ON BRITE RADAR OUT THE CONTROL ZONE. THE ACFT WAS CALLED IN AS OVERDUE AT 2354 GMT (APRX 1 HR AFTER DEPARTURE). WHEN THE ACFT WAS LOCATED THE NEXT MORNING, DIVERS FROM THE CG FOUND A FEMALE BODY IN THE ACFT. THE DROWNED PLT WAS FOUND ON A BEACH 11/11
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: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 4,950 hours in all; 4,478 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 12, 1984; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,600 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-200-A4B (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Air Ambulance And Charter
The flight
- Departed from: PVD Providence RI
- Destination: Prudence Island RI
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 360° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 1 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 300 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 54°F (12°C), dew point 48°F (9°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:54 pm from PVD, 6 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.