Cessna 150G accident near Smithville, Tennessee, September 5, 1986
On September 5, 1986, a Cessna 150G, registered N3287J, was substantially damaged in an accident near Smithville, Tennessee (Smithville Muni airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was 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
- September 5, 1986
- Place
- Smithville, Tennessee · Smithville Muni · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 150G · all 150Gs on the register
- Registration
- N3287J · registry record · serial 15065987
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT REPORTED THE ACFT HAD 6-7 GALLONS OF FUEL AT TAKEOFF, ENOUGH FOR ABOUT 30 MINUTES OF FLIGHT. HE FLEW FOR APRX 1 HOUR AND ON TAKEOFF FROM A TOUCH AND GO LANDING, THE ENG QUIT DUE TO FUEL EXHAUSTION. THE PLT STATED HE HAD BUILT THIS ACFT FROM SEVERAL DIFFERENT ACFT. FAA ACFT REGISTRY SHOWED THE ACFT WAS PREVIOUSLY REPORTED BY FORMER OWNER AS DESTROYED DUE TO ACCIDENT. THE PLT ALSO REPORTED THAT HE HAD NO PLT CERTIFICATE.
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
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 3, 1981
- Maximum gross weight: 1,600 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-200-A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 24, 3,400 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 190° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 9 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 8,500 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 70°F (21°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 11:49 pm from BNA, 40 miles away
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.