Cessna 150 accident near Show Low, Arizona, June 6, 1983
On June 6, 1983 at about 6:00 am local time, a Cessna 150, registered N51255, was substantially damaged in an accident near Show Low, Arizona (Show Low airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed and 1 person was seriously injured. 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 6, 1983 · about 6:00 am local time
- Place
- Show Low, Arizona · Show Low · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed and 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 150 · all 150s on the register
- Registration
- N51255 · no longer on the register · serial 69874
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT STALLED DURING A NIGHT TAKEOFF AND COLLIDED WITH THE GROUND. THE WEATHER WAS VMC AND NO FLIGHT PLAN WAS FILED. NO ONE WITNESSED THE TAKEOFF AS THE AIRPORT WAS CLOSED. IT WAS A DARK NIGHT AND THE STUDENT PILOT HAD NO NIGHT FLYING EXPERIENCE. THE PILOT SAID THE ACFT WAS PERFORMING NORMALLY WITH NO PROBLEMS AND HE SIMPLY STALLED DURING THE TAKEOFF CLIMB. THE PILOT HAS NOT SUBMITTED A REPORT AND COULD NOT ACCOUNT FOR THE FAMALE PASSENGER WHO WAS FATALLY INJURED IN THE ACCIDENT.
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: 15 hours in all; 12 in this make and model; 5 in the last 90 days; 2 in the last 30 days; 2 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Unknown (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,163 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded, May 20, 1982; 97 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,600 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-200-A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: 4E0 Taylor AZ
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 6, 600 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 090° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.