Cessna 150M accident near Charleston, Missouri, January 12, 2003
On January 12, 2003 at about 7:00 pm local time, a Cessna 150M, registered N66507, was substantially damaged in an accident near Charleston, Missouri (Mississippi County Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the inadequate flare by the pilot. Factors were the loose trim tab cable for undetermined reasons.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 12, 2003 · about 7:00 pm local time
- Place
- Charleston, Missouri · Mississippi County Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 150M · all 150Ms on the register
- Registration
- N66507 · registry record · serial 15076087
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airplane impacted the runway during landing in a nose low attitude. The pilot reported elevator control stiffness during his first approach for landing which was then followed by a go-around and the accident landing. No anomalies were noted when the elevators and ailerons were checked to ensure full unrestricted travel. There was no excessive play in the elevator, rudder, ailerons, and elevator. The elevator trim cable did not possess any tension relative to the 10-20 pound tension cited in the manufacturer’s maintenance manual. The lack of elevator trim cable tension did not preclude operation of the elevator trim.
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: recreational
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 375 hours in all; 124 in this make and model; 30 in the last 90 days; 4 in the last 30 days; 300 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: February 3, 2001
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,045 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 30, 2002; 50 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,670 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-200 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: UCY Union City TN at 6:00 pm
- Destination: Charleston MO
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 36, 3,200 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 32°F (0°C), dew point 10°F (-12°C)
- Altimeter: 30.46 inHg
- Observation at 6:53 pm from CGI
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.