Cessna 150M accident near Salem, Illinois, September 13, 1997
On September 13, 1997 at about 8:00 pm local time, a Cessna 150M, registered N66547, was substantially damaged in an accident near Salem, Illinois (Salem-Leckrone airport). It was an instructional 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 student pilot's improper flare and improper recovery from a bounced landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 13, 1997 · about 8:00 pm local time
- Place
- Salem, Illinois · Salem-Leckrone · map
- 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
- N66547 · no longer on the register · serial 2071830
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The student pilot reported that before landing, the approach was normal. While over the approach end of the runway, he leveled off the airplane to bleed off airspeed, then the airplane 'stalled and dropped in quite hard.' The airplane bounced and came down at an angle to the runway, then the nose wheel folded under the airframe, damaging the firewall. The airplane then slid to a stop. Later, the pilot said that he was momentarily distracted, and the airplane started to drift, causing his attention to be diverted away from the airspeed.
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: student
- Flight time: 39 hours in all; 34 in this make and model; 19 in the last 90 days; 9 in the last 30 days; 2 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 31, 1997; 98 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,500 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-200-A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SLO at 7:45 pm
- Destination: SLO
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 18, 4,098 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 7 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.