Cessna 150H accident near Tallahassee, Florida, May 17, 1985
On May 17, 1985 at about 7:31 pm local time, a Cessna 150H, registered N50239, was substantially damaged in an accident near Tallahassee, Florida. It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 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
- May 17, 1985 · about 7:31 pm local time
- Place
- Tallahassee, Florida · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 150H · all 150Hs on the register
- Registration
- N50239 · registry record · serial 15069160
- 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 WIRES DURING A FORCED LANDING OFF THE ARPT. THE PLT HAD CALLED ON THE RADIO SAYING HE WAS UNABLE TO MAKE THE ARPT AND WAS LANDING IN A CLEARING. THE ACFT ENDED UP INVERTED AFTER THE COLLISION WITH THE WIRES. POST ACCIDENT EXAMINATION SHOWED LACK OF USABLE FUEL IN THE TANKS & NO FUEL IN THE GASCOLATOR BOWL. THE ENG WAS DETERMINED TO BE CAPABLE OF NORMAL OPERATION BY POST ACCIDENT OPERATIONAL CHECKS.
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
- Flight time: 94 hours in all; 29 in this make and model; 16 in the last 90 days; 14 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 8, 1985; 10 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: CEW Crestview FL
- Destination: TLH Tallahassee FL
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 330° at 9 knots, gusting 20
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 3:48 pm from TLH, 4 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.