Cessna 150H accident near Oneida, Tennessee, March 9, 1987
On March 9, 1987 at about 5:00 am local time, a Cessna 150H, registered N50077, was destroyed in an accident near Oneida, Tennessee. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
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
- March 9, 1987 · about 5:00 am local time
- Place
- Oneida, Tennessee · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 150H · all 150Hs on the register
- Registration
- N50077 · registry record · serial 15069049
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT CONTACTED THE FSS SEVERAL TIMES DURING THE MORNING FOR WEATHER ALONG HIS PROPOSED ROUTE OF FLIGHT. SHORTLY AFTER LUNCH HE DEPARTED WITHOUT A FLIGHT PLAN. HE REPORTED TO ONE FSS THAT HE WAS VFR ONLY BUT CONTINUED ALTHOUGH VFR WAS NOT RECOMMENDED FOR PORTIONS OF HIS ROUTE. AT ONE POINT HE REPORTED THAT HE WAS AT 6,000 FT AND ON TOP, AND ASKED FOR DIRECTIONS TO AN AIRPORT THAT WAS VFR. LATER HE WAS HEARD TRYING TO CONTACT THE TOWER AT HIS DESTINATION. A COMMERCIAL FLIGHT TRIED TO RELAY INFORMATION TO HIM BUT WAS NOT SUCCESSFUL. AN NTAP READ OUT OF RADAR DATA ENDS SHORTLY THEREAFTER. THE WRECKAGE WAS FOUND WRAPPED AROUND A TREE ON THE SIDE OF A VERTICAL ROCK CLIFF.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 500 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 1,600 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-200-A (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: 3M3 Clifton TN at 10:50 pm
- Destination: LEX Lexington KY
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 330° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 6 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 1,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 36°F (2°C), dew point 34°F (1°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
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.