Cessna 150 accident near Tinton Falls, New Jersey, April 28, 1990
On April 28, 1990 at about 10:45 pm local time, a Cessna 150, registered N1561Q, was substantially damaged in an accident near Tinton Falls, New Jersey. 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 FAILURE OF THE STUDENT PILOT TO ENSURE THERE WAS SUFFICIENT FUEL ON BOARD FOR THE PLANNED FLIGHT. A FACTOR RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE FAILURE OF THE FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR TO PROPERLY PREPARE HIS STUDENT FOR THE FLIGHT.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 28, 1990 · about 10:45 pm local time
- Place
- Tinton Falls, New Jersey
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 150 · all 150s on the register
- Registration
- N1561Q · registry record · serial 15072861
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE STUDENT PILOT DEPARTED WITH WHAT HE CALLED HALF FULL TANKS. AFTER ONE HOUR AND 15 MINUTES HE MADE A FORCED LANDING IN A FIELD DUE TO FUEL EXHAUSTION. DURING THE LANDING THE AIRPLANE FLIPPED OVER. THE FAA SAID THEY WERE UNABLE TO FIND FUEL IN THE TANKS OR EVIDENCE OF FUEL SPILLAGE FROM THE TANKS.
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: student
- Flight time: 66 hours in all; 66 in this make and model; 28 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,565 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 27, 1990; 6 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,600 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-200A (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Gibson Air Academy, INC.
The flight
- Departed from: BLM Farmingdale NJ at 9:30 pm
- Destination: Trenton NJ
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 59°F (15°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.
Other NTSB records under N1561Q the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.