Cessna 150L accident near Central, Indiana, January 12, 1985
On January 12, 1985 at about 7:15 pm local time, a Cessna 150L, registered N10543, was substantially damaged in an accident near Central, Indiana. 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
- January 12, 1985 · about 7:15 pm local time
- Place
- Central, Indiana
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 150L · all 150Ls on the register
- Registration
- N10543 · no longer on the register · serial 1507496
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT CONTACTED A TREE AND NOSED OVER DURING A FORCED LANDING FOLLOWING FUEL EXHAUSTION. THE STUDENT PLT WAS OBSERVED BY SEVERAL WITNESSES TO TO REMOVE THE FUEL CAPS DURING PREFLIGHT AND CHECK THE FUEL QUANTITY. THE PLT STATED THE FUEL LEVEL WAS UP TO THE TANK FILLERNECKS. AFTER 1.5 HOURS FLT TIME, FUEL EXHAUSTION OCCURRED. THE ACFT HAD BEEN FLOWN ON TWO PREVIOUS FLTS TOTALING 2.3 HOURS FLT TIME AND HAD NOT BEEN REFUELED PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT FLT.
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: student
- Flight time: 19 hours in all; 19 in this make and model; 15 in the last 90 days; 3 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 10, 1984; 71 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: Sellersburg IN at 5:45 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 270° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 21°F (-6°C), dew point 10°F (-12°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:52 pm from SDF, 22 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.