Cessna 150J accident near Chelsea, Oklahoma, June 21, 1987
On June 21, 1987 at about 7:17 pm local time, a Cessna 150J, registered N51267, was substantially damaged in an accident near Chelsea, Oklahoma (Pvt Strip airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries. 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
- June 21, 1987 · about 7:17 pm local time
- Place
- Chelsea, Oklahoma · Pvt Strip · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 150J · all 150Js on the register
- Registration
- N51267 · registry record · serial 15069882
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE NON-RATED PLT ATTEMPTED A DOWNWIND TAKEOFF FROM A 1450' PVT GRASS STRIP. THE STRIP WAS SOFT FROM RECENT RAIN & CONTAINED GRASS & WEEDS WHICH WERE 6 TO 7 INCHES HI. AFTER TAKING OFF, THE ACFT WOULD NOT CLIMB FAST ENOUGH TO CLEAR OBSTACLES. SUBSEQUENTLY, IT COLLIDED WITH A TREE & POWER LINES. THE PLT HAD ACQUIRED A STUDENT CERTIFICATE ON 12/29/72, WHICH HAD NEVER BEEN ENDORSED FOR SOLO FLT. HIS FLT TIME WAS NOT RPRTD. APRX 5 YRS HAD ELAPSED SINCE THE ACFT HAD AN ANNUAL INSPN. REGULAR (AUTO) FUEL WAS BEING USED IN THE ACFT W/O AN STC.
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
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (expired)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- 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 17, 1,450 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 25,000 ft; scat at 15,000 ft
- Temperature: 88°F (31°C), dew point 66°F (19°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:51 pm from TUL, 30 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.