Cessna 150H accident near Protem, Missouri, May 27, 2001
On May 27, 2001 at about 10:05 pm local time, a Cessna 150H, registered N23033, was destroyed in an accident near Protem, Missouri. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed and 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The overload of the flap control cable for undetermined reasons resulting in aircraft control not being possible. The trees were a factor.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 27, 2001 · about 10:05 pm local time
- Place
- Protem, Missouri · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed and 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 150H · all 150Hs on the register
- Registration
- N23033 · no longer on the register · serial 15068691
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airplane was destroyed when it impacted trees and terrain after a loss of control while maneuvering. The pilot said that he and his passenger were flying near his house at 800 feet above ground level so that the passenger could photograph the residence. The pilot said that he reduced airspeed and lowered 10-15 degrees of flaps, keeping the airspeed at the upper end of the flap operating range. The pilot stated that he executed a turn to the left. The pilot stated that when he began the left turn, he heard a, "loud pop in the left wing." He said that the control yoke was, "jerked out of [his] hand to the full left stop." The pilot said that the airplane continued to roll to the left even with full right aileron input. He stated that he lowered the flaps in an effort to, "slow [the airplane] down a little and therefore lessen the impact. However, all this did was intensify the roll." The airplane subsequently impacted trees and terrain. The flap control system was examined and a break in the flap control cable was observed. The broken flap cable and the right hand inboard pulley and bracket assembly were retained for further examination. No other anomalies were found. The broken flap cable, flap pulley, and pulley bracket were examined at the National Transportation Safety Board's Materials Laboratory in Washington, D.C. The cable break contained signatures consistent with overstress failure. The pulley bracket had a crescent wear mark adjacent to but outside of the cotter pin intended to retain the cable in the pulley groove. The wear mark was covered with a black residue and its appearance was not fresh. No wear was observed on the cotter pin.
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: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 182 hours in all; 160 in this make and model; 74 in the last 90 days; 35 in the last 30 days; 123 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: November 28, 2000
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,797 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, November 30, 2000; 47 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,600 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-200-A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: HRO Harrison AR at 9:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 290° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 59°F (15°C)
- Altimeter: 29.82 inHg
- Observation at 10:53 pm from HRO, 20 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.