Cessna 150G accident near Turner, Maine, July 23, 1996
On July 23, 1996 at about 9:48 pm local time, a Cessna 150G, registered N3269J, was substantially damaged in an accident near Turner, Maine (Twitchells airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the pilot's inadequate preflight inspection, by failing to remove the pitot tube cover, which resulted in false airspeed indications, and his failure to maintain adequate obstacle clearance from a utility pole.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 23, 1996 · about 9:48 pm local time
- Place
- Turner, Maine · Twitchells
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 150G · all 150Gs on the register
- Registration
- N3269J · registry record · serial 150G5969
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot took off on a short flight to a nearby airport. He reported that as he approached the destination airport to land, the airspeed indicated about 45 to 50 mph with vibrations. As he flared to land, the airplane floated about 6 feet above the grass landing area with no stall characteristics. The airplane did not seem to slow sufficiently, so the pilot made a go-around. He indicated that he began a gradual climb, but kept the nose down to build airspeed. He started a right turn as he neared the departure end of the runway. The airplane cleared a building, but the wingtip struck a utility pole. The airplane then descended to the ground and came to rest on a street. An FAA examination of the airplane revealed the pitot tube cover was on the pitot tube. The pilot reported that this was the first time he had used the cover after it had been missing for several months.
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: 670 hours in all; 607 in this make and model; 30 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,112 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 3, 1996; 23 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,685 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-200-A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 7B2 Minot ME at 9:40 pm
- Destination: 3B5
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 29, 2,200 ft by 200 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast; not recorded
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°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.
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.