Cessna C-150 accident near Culebra Island, Puerto Rico, September 12, 1983
On September 12, 1983 at about 4:20 pm local time, a Cessna C-150, registered N11207, was substantially damaged in an accident near Culebra Island, Puerto Rico. It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 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
- September 12, 1983 · about 4:20 pm local time
- Place
- Culebra Island, Puerto Rico
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna C-150
- Registration
- N11207 · no longer on the register · serial 15075254
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT STATED THAT WHILE ON HIS LONG CROSS COUNTRY FLIGHT THE ENGINE STARTED TO LOSE PWR. HE THEN FELT A VIBRATION AND THE PROP STOPPED THE ACFT WAS DITCHED NEAR THE SHORE OF CULEBRA ISLAND. IT WAS CALCULATED THAT THE ACFT FLEW ABT 3 HOURS AND 30 MINUTES. ENDURANCE CHARTS IN THE OPERATING HANDBOOK INDICATE THAT UNDER STD CONDITIONS AT 75% PWR THE ACFT WILL FLY FOR 3 AND ONE-HALF HOURS WITH 2.6 GALLONS LEFT FOR RESERVE PROVIDED THE MIXTURE IS PROPERLY LEANED AT CRUISE
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: 58 hours in all; 58 in this make and model; 49 in the last 90 days; 9 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 8,164 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 15, 1983; 90 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,600 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-200 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: MIST St. Thomas at 4:00 pm
- Destination: MVOS Vieques Island PR
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 110° at 15 knots
- Visibility: 9 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 2,000 ft
- Temperature: 88°F (31°C), dew point 73°F (23°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 2:45 pm from MIST, 30 miles away
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.