Cessna 150E accident near Cassville, Missouri, October 10, 1991
On October 10, 1991 at about 10:45 pm local time, a Cessna 150E, registered N2563J, was substantially damaged in an accident near Cassville, Missouri (Cassville Municipal airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND'S IMPROPER PREFLIGHT PLANNING AND PREPARATION. FACTORS CONTRIBUTING TO THIS ACCIDENT WERE FUEL EXHAUSTION, A HIDDEN OBSTRUCTION WITHIN THE TERRAIN THE PILOT LANDED ON AND A COLLAPSED NOSEGEAR.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 10, 1991 · about 10:45 pm local time
- Place
- Cassville, Missouri · Cassville Municipal · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 150E · all 150Es on the register
- Registration
- N2563J · registry record · serial 15061063
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE LIGHT SINGLE-ENGINE AIRPLANE WAS FLYING A WIDE DOWNWIND LEG FOR LANDING. THE PILOT APPLIED CARBURETOR HEAT AND BEGAN TO REDUCE POWER. THE ENGINE CEASED TO RUN DURING THE POWER REDUCTION PROCESS. THE PILOT STATED HE REALIZED HE COULDN'T MAKE IT TO THE RUNWAY THRESHOLD AND DECIDED TO LAND IN WHAT APPEARED TO BE A LEVEL, GREEN COLORED, FIELD NEAR THE AIRPORT. UPON TOUCHDOWN, THE AIRPLANE ROLLED DOWNHILL THEN PROCEEDED UPHILL. DURING THE UPHILL LANDING ROLL THE AIRPLANE STRUCK A ROCK AND IT'S NOSE GEAR COLLAPSED. THE AIRPLANE, ACCORDING TO THE PILOT, NOSED OVER IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE ROCK STRIKE. AN ON-SCENE INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT THE FUEL TANKS WERE DEVOID OF FUEL. THERE WAS NO FUEL SPILLAGE NOR WAS FUEL FOUND IN THE CARBURETOR FLOAT CHAMBER.
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: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 179 hours in all; 21 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,500 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-200A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: MO61 Golden MO at 10:10 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 050° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 20,000 ft; not recorded at 20,000 ft
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Observation at 10:50 pm from JLN, 40 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.