Cessna 150F accident near Eldon, Missouri, May 8, 1992
On May 8, 1992 at about 9:00 pm local time, a Cessna 150F, registered N8081S, was substantially damaged in an accident near Eldon, Missouri. It was a personal 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
A BINDING EXHAUST VALVE RESULTING IN A PARTIAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER. FACTORS IN THE ACCIDENT ARE RISING TERRAIN CONDITIONS, INADEQUATE AIRCRAFT CLIMB CAPABILITY, AND A DITCH IN THE FORCED LANDING AREA.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 8, 1992 · about 9:00 pm local time
- Place
- Eldon, Missouri · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 150F · all 150Fs on the register
- Registration
- N8081S · no longer on the register · serial 15061681
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACCIDENT AIRPLANE LOST PARTIAL ENGINE POWER WHEN THE EXHAUST VALVE IN THE NUMBER ONE CYLINDER BECAME STUCK. THE PILOT STARTED AN EMERGENCY DESCENT TOWARD A FORCED LANDING AREA AND ATTEMPTED TO TROUBLESHOOT THE ENGINE PROBLEM. HE REGAINED LEVEL FLIGHT OVER A VALLEY FLOOR BUT BELOW THE ELEVATION OF THE SURROUNDING TERRAIN. ENGINE OPERATION AT FULL THROTTLE RESULTED IN LESS THAN FULL POWER OUTPUT. WHEN HE ATTEMPTED TO CLIMB OUT OF THE VALLEY HE WAS UNABLE TO MAINTAIN CLEARANCE FROM OBSTRUCTIONS AND TERRAIN. HE FLEW THROUGH AND BROKE A POWER TRANSMISSION LINE. HE FLEW TOWARD LOWER TERRAIN AND LANDED IN AN OPEN FIELD. HE COLLIDED WITH A DITCH DURING THE FORCED LANDING GROUND ROLL.
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: 81 hours in all; 81 in this make and model; 27 in the last 90 days; 9 in the last 30 days; 54 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,315 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 11, 1992; 55 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: VER Boonville MO at 8:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 36°F (2°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 9:45 pm from JEF, 40 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.