Cessna 150J accident near El Dorado, Arkansas, March 19, 1983
On March 19, 1983 at about 10:30 pm local time, a Cessna 150J, registered N5512G, was substantially damaged in an accident near El Dorado, Arkansas (Downtown 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 NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 19, 1983 · about 10:30 pm local time
- Place
- El Dorado, Arkansas · Downtown · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 150J · all 150Js on the register
- Registration
- N5512G · no longer on the register · serial 15071012
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH TREES AFTER RUNNING OFF THE END OF THE RWY DURING AN ABORTED TAKEOFF. THE STUDENT PLT MADE 2 TOUCH AND GO LANDINGS AND TAXIED IN TO HAVE HIS SEAT FIXED. AFTER THE REPAIR HE TAXIED OUT AND HELD FOR ABOUT 5 MINUTES FOR TRAFFIC. AFTER TAKEOFF THE ENGINE QUIT AT ABOUT 25 FT AGL. THE PLT ELECTED TO LAND ON THE REMAINING RWY. AS HE LANDED THE ENGINE CAUGHT AND THE PLT CUT THE THROTTLE AND APPLIED BRAKES. THE ACFT OVERRAN THE RWY, HIT A TREE AND NOSED OVER. EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE REVEALED 'O' COMPRESSION IN THE #3 CYLINDER. NO OTHER ABNORMALITIES WERE FOUND IN THE ENGINE BUT AN OIL ANALYSIS INDICATED HIGHER THAN NORMAL METAL WEAR FROM ROTATING COMPONENTS.
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
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 12 hours in all; 12 in this make and model; 12 in the last 90 days; 12 in the last 30 days; 3 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 952 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 1, 1982; 9 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 18, 3,000 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 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.