Cessna 150M accident near Lebanon, Missouri, September 6, 1999
On September 6, 1999 at about 1:45 am local time, a Cessna 150M, registered N63668, was substantially damaged in an accident near Lebanon, 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 loss of engine power due to a fractured shaft supporting the number three cylinder rocker arm. A factor relating to this accident was the trees.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 6, 1999 · about 1:45 am local time
- Place
- Lebanon, Missouri · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 150M · all 150Ms on the register
- Registration
- N63668 · no longer on the register · serial 15077469
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airplane was in level cruise flight at 2,500 feet msl, 85 knots, 2450 RPM, and heading 020 degrees toward Camdenton, Missouri, when the airplane's engine 'began running rough with RPM drop to 1500-1600.' The pilot said he applied carburetor heat, raised the nose of the airplane to minimize the altitude loss, and started heading toward Lebanon, Missouri. By leaning the mixture, the pilot was 'able to bring the engine RPM up to 1600-1700.' The pilot contacted the approach control at Springfield, Missouri, and informed them of their situation. The pilot said that the RPM began decreasing again. He placed the mixture to full rich, but noticed no change in performance. Then the engine stopped. The pilot said he maintained a 50-55 knot glide until the airplane impacted into a heavily wooded area. Examination of the airplane's engine showed that the shaft supporting the number 3 cylinder rocker arm had broken off. Examination of the remaining airplane systems showed no anomalies.
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: 51 hours in all; 46 in this make and model; 2 in the last 90 days; 1 in the last 30 days; 27 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,642 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 4, 1999; 2 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: 3DW Springfield MO at 1:20 am
- Destination: H21 Camdenton MO
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 310° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 70°F (21°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 |
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.