Cessna 150K accident near Georgetown, Kentucky, December 1, 1983
On December 1, 1983 at about 7:30 pm local time, a Cessna 150K, registered N6185G, was substantially damaged in an accident near Georgetown, Kentucky (Marshall Field). It was a flight of an unrecorded kind under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 1, 1983 · about 7:30 pm local time
- Place
- Georgetown, Kentucky · Marshall Field · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 150K · all 150Ks on the register
- Registration
- N6185G · registry record · serial 15071685
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
EARLIER IN THE DAY, AN ANNUAL INSPECTION HAD BEEN COMPLETED. THERE WERE NO REFUELING FACILITIES ON THE ARPT, SO THE PLT/MECHANIC DROVE TO ANOTHER LOCATION & PURCHASED A CAN OF GASOLINE (6 GALS) WHICH HE ADDED TO THE TANKS. HE THEN STARTED THE ENG & SATISFACTORILY COMPLETED A TEST FLT. AT ABOUT 1425 EST, A POTENTIAL BUYER WAS BOARDED & A DEMONSTRATION FLT WAS BEGUN. DURING THE INITIAL CLIMB, AT ABOUT 300 FT AGL, THE ENG BEGAN SPUTTERING. THE PLT TRIED TO RETURN TO THE RWY, BUT THE ENG LOST ALL POWER. DURING A FORCED LANDING, THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH A FENCE. THE FUEL SYS WAS CHECKED & APPEARED TO OPERATE NORMALLY. NOTHING WAS FOUND IN THE GASCOLATOR OR FUEL SCREEN TO BLOCK THE FUEL FLOW. THE PLT SUSPECTED THAT ICE MAY HAVE FORMED IN A LOW POINT IN THE FUEL PLUMBING THAT COULD NOT BE DRAINED. HOWEVER, THE TEMP ROSE ABOVE FREEZING ABOUT 2.4 HRS BEFORE THE FLT. WATER WAS DRAINED FROM A T-FITTING THAT ACTED AS A SUMP, BUT COULD ONLY BE DRAINED BY REMOVING A PLUG.
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 multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: balloon
- Flight time: 4,500 hours in all; 2,100 in this make and model; 4,400 as pilot in command; 2,500 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,054 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 1, 1983; 1 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,650 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-200A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: I33 Georgetown KY at 7:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 270° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 37°F (3°C), dew point 21°F (-6°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 7:52 pm from LEX, 10 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.