Cessna 150J accident near Alton, Illinois, July 9, 1982
On July 9, 1982 at about 11:00 pm local time, a Cessna 150J, registered N61130, was substantially damaged in an accident near Alton, Illinois (Civic Memorial airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. 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
- July 9, 1982 · about 11:00 pm local time
- Place
- Alton, Illinois · Civic Memorial
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 150J · all 150Js on the register
- Registration
- N61130 · registry record · serial 15070823
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE STUDENT AND INSTRUCTOR PILOT (IP) WERE DEPARTING ON AN INSTRUCTIONAL FLIGHT. IMMEDIATELY AFTER TAKEOFF, THE IP RETARDED THE THROTTLE TO SIMULATE AN ENGINE FAILURE. THE STUDENT LOWERED THE NOSE TO MAINTAIN AIRSPEED, THEN PREMATURELY RAISED IT AGAIN. THE IP TOOK CORRECTIVE ACTION, BUT THE PLANE TOUCHED DOWN IN A HIGH RATE OF DESCENT. JUST BEFORE TOUCHING DOWN, THE IP RAISED THE NOSE TO ABSORB THE SHOCK ON THE MAIN GEAR. HOWEVER, THE TAIL ALSO CONTACTED THE SURFACE AND WAS DAMAGED.
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; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,640 hours in all; 30 in this make and model; 220 in the last 90 days; 1,535 as pilot in command; 1,200 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,704 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
- Operator: Piasa Wings, INC.
The flight
- Departed from: ALN Alton IL at 5:59 pm
- Destination: ALN Alton IL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 11, 6,500 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 110° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; clear
- Temperature: 167°F (75°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 |
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.