Cessna 150 accident near Lakeview, Arkansas, July 12, 2018
On July 12, 2018 at about 1:30 am local time, a 1968 Cessna 150, registered N50183, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff near Lakeview, Arkansas (Gastons airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The student pilot’s impairment by alcohol and multiple medications, which led to his failure to maintain obstacle clearance during takeoff and the subsequent exceedance of the airplane’s critical angle of attack, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall and impact with terrain.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 12, 2018 · about 1:30 am local time
- Place
- Lakeview, Arkansas · Gastons · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 150 H, built 1968 · all 150s on the register
- Registration
- N50183 · no longer on the register · serial 15069114
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The student pilot reported that after takeoff from the grass airstrip, the left wing impacted a tree branch. He overcorrected from the impact and stalled the airplane. The airplane impacted a grass clearing and came to rest inverted near trees, which resulted in substantial damage to the fuselage, both wings, and the empennage. Although his blood alcohol level was not tested after the accident, the student pilot stated that he drank alcohol during the afternoon of the flight. In addition, he admitted to taking baclofen and bupropion, which are both potentially impairing medications that carry specific warnings about increased impairing effects when used in combination with alcohol. It is likely the pilot was impaired by his use of a combination of alcohol, baclofen, and bupropion and that these effects likely increased his willingness to fly while impaired and prevented him from safely taking off.
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
What happened, in order
- Medical event during prior to flight
- Collision during takeoff/land during takeoff defining event
- Attempted remediation/recovery during takeoff
- Loss of control in flight during takeoff
- Aerodynamic stall/spin during takeoff
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during takeoff
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Psychological › Attention/monitoring › Monitoring environment › Student/instructed pilot
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Student/instructed pilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Angle of attack › Capability exceeded
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
- cause Personnel issues › Physical › Health/Fitness › Use of medication/drugs › Student/instructed pilot
- cause Personnel issues › Physical › Health/Fitness › Use of alcohol › Student/instructed pilot
- cause Personnel issues › Physical › Impairment/incapacitation › Alcohol › Student/instructed pilot
- cause Personnel issues › Physical › Impairment/incapacitation › Prescription medication › Student/instructed pilot
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Tree(s) › Contributed to outcome
Dual student
- Certificate: student
- Flight time: 110 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Maximum gross weight: 1,601 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-200 Series (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 3M0 Lakeview AR at 1:28 am
- Destination: 3M0 Lakeview AR
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 24, 3,200 ft by 55 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 160° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 8,000 ft
- Temperature: 88°F (31°C), dew point 66°F (19°C)
- Altimeter: 30.01 inHg
- Observation at 1:53 am from KBPK, 4 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
5 documents, released by the NTSB on June 18, 2020. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Accident Photographs | PDF, 5 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Records of Conversation | PDF, 3 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Witness Statements | PDF, 5 pages | View Download |
| 4 | NTSB Medical Factual Report | PDF, 3 pages | View Download |
| 5 | NTSB Party Member Form | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.