Cessna 150H accident near Linden, New Jersey, February 26, 1996
On February 26, 1996 at about 3:10 pm local time, a Cessna 150H, registered N6964S, was substantially damaged in an accident near Linden, New Jersey. It was an aerial observation flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the pilot's inadequate preflight and failure to follow the checklist to ensure that the fuel selector valve was in the ON position, which resulted in fuel starvation and subsequent loss of engine power. In addition, the pilot failed to maintain airspeed during the forced landing which resulted in an inadvertent stall.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 26, 1996 · about 3:10 pm local time
- Place
- Linden, New Jersey
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 150H · all 150Hs on the register
- Registration
- N6964S · no longer on the register · serial 15067664
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial observation flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
After takeoff, at about 200 feet, the engine lost power. Witnesses observed the airplane turn to the left about 180 degrees and nose into the ground. Examination of the wreckage revealed that the fuel selector was in the OFF position, and no fuel was found in the fuel lines going from the fuel selector to the engine. Fuel was found in the wing fuel 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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 351 hours in all; 50 in this make and model; 23 in the last 90 days; 8 in the last 30 days; 310 as pilot in command; 85 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 8,510 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 2, 1995; 100 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,600 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-200A (piston); 0 hours total
- Not recorded
The flight
- Departed from: LDJ at 3:00 pm
- Destination: LDJ
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 330° at 19 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 25,000 ft; clear
- Temperature: 50°F (10°C), dew point 18°F (-8°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 2:50 pm from EWR, 5 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.