Cessna 150L accident near De Kalb, Illinois, May 1, 1993
On May 1, 1993 at about 8:14 pm local time, a Cessna 150L, registered N6783G, was destroyed in an accident near De Kalb, Illinois (Dekalb Taylor Municipal airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT FLYING THE AIRPLANE TO MAINTAIN AN AIRSPEED ABOVE STALL SPEED.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 1, 1993 · about 8:14 pm local time
- Place
- De Kalb, Illinois · Dekalb Taylor Municipal · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 150L · all 150Ls on the register
- Registration
- N6783G · no longer on the register · serial 15072283
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE AIRPLANE WAS OBSERVED ON A LONG LOW FINAL APPROACH TO THE RUNWAY. THE AIRPLANE WAS OBSERVED TO WOBBLE AND PITCH NOSE DOWN AND BEGIN A ROTATION JUST PRIOR TO IMPACT WITH THE TERRAIN. THERE WERE TWO CERTIFICATED PILOTS ONBOARD THE AIRPLANE. IT IS UNKNOWN WHICH PILOT WAS OPERATING THE CONTROLS. THE PILOT OCCUPYING THE RIGHT SEAT HAD NO LOGGED FLIGHTS WITHIN THE PRECEDING 90 DAYS. THE PILOT IN THE LEFT SEAT DID NOT POSSESS A VALID BIENNIAL FLIGHT REVIEW.
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; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 283 hours in all; 197 in this make and model; 10 in the last 90 days; 3 in the last 30 days; 155 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,562 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 16, 1993; 10 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,600 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-200-A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 9, 4,199 ft by 50 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 120° at 20 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 25,000 ft; scat at 15,000 ft
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 54°F (12°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 8:45 pm from ARR, 16 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.