Cessna 150H accident near Lebanon, Tennessee, September 28, 1985
On September 28, 1985 at about 4:30 pm local time, a Cessna 150H, registered N7086S, was substantially damaged in an accident near Lebanon, Tennessee (Lebanon airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. 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
- September 28, 1985 · about 4:30 pm local time
- Place
- Lebanon, Tennessee · Lebanon · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 150H · all 150Hs on the register
- Registration
- N7086S · no longer on the register · serial 15067786
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT CRASHED DURING A FORCED LNDG AFTER A POWER LOSS DURING TAKEOFF. ACCORDING TO REPORTS THE PLT TOOK OFF ON A CHECK RIDE WITH AN INSTRUCTOR. AT 150 FT AGL PWR DROPPED TO 2000 RPM. THE CFI TOOK OVER AND SHORTLY THEREAFTER THE PWR DROPPED TO 1800 RPM. IN ATTEMPTING TO TURN TO AN OPEN AREA TO LAND, SINCE THE ACFT WAS NOW IN A DESCENT, A TREE TOP WAS COLLIDED WITH AND THE ACFT WENT DOWN AND COLLIDED WITH MORE TREES. THE ACFT BURNED SHORTLY AFTER IMPACT. THE OCCUPANTS ESCAPED WITH MINOR INJURIES.
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
- Flight time: 1,930 hours in all; 114 in this make and model; 85 in the last 90 days; 1,413 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 37,700 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 26, 1985; 200 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,600 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-200A (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
- Operator: Transportation America CORP.
The flight
- Departed from: M54 Lebanon TN
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 18, 3,500 ft by 100 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 110° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 66°F (19°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 11:00 am from BNA
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 |
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.