Cessna 150 accident near Altamont, Illinois, February 14, 1982
On February 14, 1982 at about 2:00 am local time, a Cessna 150, registered N9447U, was substantially damaged in an accident near Altamont, Illinois. 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 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
- February 14, 1982 · about 2:00 am local time
- Place
- Altamont, Illinois · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 150 · all 150s on the register
- Registration
- N9447U · no longer on the register · serial 78395
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
ABOUT FIVE TO TEN MINUTES AFTER TAKEOFF AT NIGHT, THE ENGINE BEGAN TO LOSE POWER AND THEN SUDDENLY STOPPED. PILOT ELECTED TO LAND IN A LIGHT COLORED AREA THAT WAS SURROUNDED BY DARKER AREAS. DURING THE APPROACH, THE AIRCRAFT STRUCK A TREE WHICH DAMAGED THE LEFT WING AND TAIL, AND KNOCKED THE WINDSHIELD OUT. AT THIS TIME, THE ENGINE BEGAN RUNNING. THE PILOT ADDED POWER AND THE PLANE SETTLED TO THE GROUND WHICH WAS COVERED WITH 14 INCHES OF SNOW. AFTER TOUCHDOWN THE NOSE GEAR FOLDED AND THE WHEEL PANTS SEPARATED FROM THE LANDING GEAR. AN INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT THE HEAT DUCT TO THE CARBURETOR AIR BOX WAS DETERIORATED TO THE EXTENT THAT HEAT WOULD HAVE BEEN DIVERTED FROM THE CARBURETOR. HOWEVER, THE INVESTIGATION REVEALED NO OTHER MECHANICAL MALFUNCTIONS OR FAILURES. THE TEMPERATURE AND DEW POINT WERE 21 AND 15 DEGREES, RESPECTIVELY.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 6,000 hours in all; 300 in this make and model; 126 in the last 90 days; 5,800 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,276 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 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: VLA Effingham IL
- Destination: Vandalia IL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 200° at 14 knots
- Visibility: 4 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; not recorded
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
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.