Cessna 150K accident near Selbyville, Delaware, May 16, 1987
On May 16, 1987 at about 7:00 pm local time, a Cessna 150K, registered N5747G, was destroyed in an accident near Selbyville, Delaware (Warrington airport). It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person 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
- May 16, 1987 · about 7:00 pm local time
- Place
- Selbyville, Delaware · Warrington · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 150K · all 150Ks on the register
- Registration
- N5747G · no longer on the register · serial 15071247
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING TAKEOFF THE PILOT STATED THAT AT ABOUT 150 TO 200 FEET HE EXPERIENCED A SLOW SINKING OF THE AIRCRAFT. THE ENGINE WAS AT FULL THROTTLE, THE FLAPS SET AT 10 DEGREES AND THE AIRSPEED AT 70 KNOTS. THE AIRCRAFT CONTINUED TO SINK AND COLLIDED WITH TREES. EXAMINATION OF THE AIRFRAME AND ENGINE REVEALED NO PREIMPACT MECHANICAL MALFUNCTIONS/FAILURES. FLT PURPOSE WAS PRACTICE FOR BANNER TOWING OPERATION.
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: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 4,654 hours in all; 40 in this make and model; 37 in the last 90 days; 4,384 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,339 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 9, 1987
- Maximum gross weight: 1,600 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E2D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 17, 2,180 ft by 94 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 080° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 4,000 ft
- Temperature: 66°F (19°C), dew point 46°F (8°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:55 pm from SBY, 17 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.