Cessna 150M accident near Terre Haute, Indiana, September 21, 1986
On September 21, 1986 at about 8:34 pm local time, a Cessna 150M, registered N66023, was substantially damaged in an accident near Terre Haute, Indiana. 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 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
- September 21, 1986 · about 8:34 pm local time
- Place
- Terre Haute, Indiana
- 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
- N66023 · registry record · serial 15075783
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT WAS EQUIPPED WITH AN O-320-E2D ENG, BUT THE PLT CALCULATED HIS FUEL CONSUMPTION BASED ON THE ORIGINAL ENG, WHICH WAS AN O-200-A. THE O-200-A ENG USED APRX 8 GAL/HR, WHEREAS, THE O-320-E2D USED ABOUT 10 GAL/HR. BEFORE REACHING THE DESTINATION ON THE 1ST LEG OF THE X-COUNTRY FLT, THE ACFT RAN OUT OF FUEL. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE PLT LANDED THE ACFT IN A CORN FIELD WHERE THE NOSE GEAR DUG IN & THE PLANE NOSED OVER.
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: single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 5,869 hours in all; 100 in this make and model; 287 in the last 90 days; 5,777 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,150 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 15, 1986
- Maximum gross weight: 1,600 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E2D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 9G2 Linden MI at 5:27 pm
- Destination: HUF Terre Haute IN
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 160° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 11 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 5,500 ft
- Temperature: 90°F (32°C), dew point 70°F (21°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 8:34 pm from HUF, 2 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.