Cessna 150H accident near Lebanon, Indiana, September 23, 2001
On September 23, 2001 at about 3:00 pm local time, a Cessna 150H, registered N6609S, was substantially damaged in an accident near Lebanon, Indiana (Boone County airport). It was a personal 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 unsuitable terrain for landing encountered by the pilot. Factors were the carburetor icing conditions, the carburetor ice, and the bean crop.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 23, 2001 · about 3:00 pm local time
- Place
- Lebanon, Indiana · Boone County · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 150H · all 150Hs on the register
- Registration
- N6609S · registry record · serial 15067409
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airplane was damaged during a forced landing to a bean field following a loss of engine power during initial climb after takeoff. The pilot said in a written statement, "Normal preflight [and] engine run-up. Shortly after lift-off there was [a] noticeable drop in power approx 2300 RPM indicated, mixture checked and carb heat applied. Last RPM indication was 2000 RPM." The airplane and the carburetor were examined and no anomalies were found. A weather reporting station listed the temperature and dew point as 21 degrees Celsius an 14 degrees Celsius respectively. According to a carburetor icing probability chart the temperature and dew point correspond to the area of potential moderate carburetor icing at cruise power, or serious icing at descent power.
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: 400 hours in all; 109 in this make and model; 17 in the last 90 days; 5 in the last 30 days; 352 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: November 13, 1999
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,607 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 5, 2001; 3 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: 6I4 Lebanon IN at 3:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 18, 3,600 ft by 30 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 190° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 57°F (14°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 7:53 pm from EYE, 13 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.