Cessna 150L accident near Murphysboro, Illinois, August 8, 1995
On August 8, 1995 at about 11:15 pm local time, a Cessna 150L, registered N11346, was substantially damaged in an accident near Murphysboro, Illinois. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the pilot's improper use of carburetor heat which led to a loss of power due to carburetor ice, and his failure to maintain airspeed during the forced landing. The carburetor icing conditions were a factor.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 8, 1995 · about 11:15 pm local time
- Place
- Murphysboro, Illinois · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 150L · all 150Ls on the register
- Registration
- N11346 · no longer on the register · serial 15075338
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT REPORTED THAT SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF, HE LEVELED THE AIRPLANE AND ADJUSTED THE MIXTURE CONTROL TO THE 'REQUIRED LEAN MIXTURE.' SUDDENLY THE AIRPLANE STARTED TO LOSE ALTITUDE. SUSPECTING CARBURETOR ICE, HE PULLED THE CARBURETOR HEAT CONTROL ON, BUT THE ENGINE RPM CONTINUED TO DROP AND THE ENGINE THEN LOST ALL POWER. THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO MAKE A FORCED LANDING ON A ROAD. AT APPROXIMATELY 200 FEET ABOVE THE GROUND, THE AIRPLANE STALLED AND IMPACTED THE GROUND. POSTACCIDENT EXAMINATION REVEALED THE NUMBERS 3 AND 4 SPARK PLUGS WERE SOOTY. THE REPORTED TEMPERATURE WAS 91 DEGREES AND THE DEW POINT WAS 71 DEGREES. THIS COMBINATION FALLS IN THE LIGHT ICING CATEGORY ON THE CARBURETOR ICING PROBABILITY CHART.
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: 161 hours in all; 100 in this make and model; 112 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,626 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 19, 1995; 57 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: MDH at 11:10 pm
- Destination: ENL Centralia IL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 7,000 ft; scat at 3,500 ft
- Temperature: 91°F (33°C), dew point 72°F (22°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 3:55 am from MDH, 3 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.