Cessna 150L accident near Melville, New York, April 19, 1993
On April 19, 1993 at about 3:03 pm local time, a Cessna 150L, registered N601MS, was substantially damaged in an accident near Melville, New York. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S IMPROPER INFLIGHT PLANNING AND DECISION, WHICH RESULTED IN FUEL EXHAUSTION AND THE SUBSEQUENT FORCED LANDING.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 19, 1993 · about 3:03 pm local time
- Place
- Melville, New York · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 150L · all 150Ls on the register
- Registration
- N601MS · no longer on the register · serial 15071514
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT AND PASSENGER DEPARTED ON A 325 MILE LEG OF A CROSS COUNTRY FLIGHT. AFTER FLYING 90 MILES, WITH THE FUEL GAUGES READING HALF A TANK OF FUEL, THE PILOT ELECTED TO LAND SHORT OF HIS PLANNED DESTINATION. THE PILOT CONTINUED ANOTHER 110 MILES, WHERE 2 MILES SHORT OF THE NEW DESTINATION, AND 3 HOURS AND 30 MINUTES INTO THE FLIGHT, FUEL EXHAUSTION OCCURRED. WHEN THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO LAND ON AN ACCESS ROAD NEAR THE AIRPORT, THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH A TREE, IMPACTED THE GROUND AND SLID INTO A TRUCK TRAILER.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 740 hours in all; 300 in this make and model; 40 in the last 90 days; 20 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,400 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 3, 1992; 45 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: 3B4 Eliot ME at 11:35 am
- Destination: N99 West Chester PA
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 190° at 11 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 25,000 ft
- Temperature: 57°F (14°C), dew point 43°F (6°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 3:07 pm from FRG, 1 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.