Cessna 150G accident near Kennewick, Washington, March 27, 1991
On March 27, 1991, a Cessna 150G, registered N4065J, was destroyed in an accident near Kennewick, Washington (Kennewick airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
IMPROPER PLANNING/DECISION BY THE PILOT, WHICH RESULTED IN FUEL EXHAUSTION DUE TO AN INADEQUATE SUPPLY OF FUEL, AND HIS FAILURE TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE AIRSPEED, WHILE MANEUVERING TO MAKE A FORCED LANDING, WHICH RESULTED IN A STALL.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 27, 1991
- Place
- Kennewick, Washington · Kennewick · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 150G · all 150Gs on the register
- Registration
- N4065J · no longer on the register · serial 15065365
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT WAS MAKING TOUCH & GO LANDINGS AT THE KENNEWICK AIRPORT. DURING THE INITIAL CLIMB AFTER TAKEOFF, AT ABOUT 150 FT AGL, THE ENGINE LOST POWER. THE PILOT MADE A STEEP TURN BACK TO THE RUNWAY & THE AIRCRAFT STALLED IN THE TURN. THE AIRCRAFT THEN DESCENDED NOSE DOWN & IMPACTED THE GROUND. A POST-ACCIDENT EXAM REVEALED ABOUT 3.5 GAL OF FUEL WAS REMAINING IN THE FUEL TANKS. THE AIRCRAFT FLIGHT MANUAL INDICATED THE 26 GAL FUEL TANKS HAD 3.5 GAL UNUSABLE FUEL.
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: 243 hours in all; 37 in this make and model; 35 in the last 90 days; 12 in the last 30 days; 106 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 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: S98 Kennewick WA at 8:20 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 2, 3,490 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 5,000 ft
- Temperature: 48°F (9°C), dew point 27°F (-3°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
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.