Cessna 150H accident near Fort Pierce, Florida, March 24, 1985
On March 24, 1985 at about 9:23 pm local time, a Cessna 150H, registered N6587S, was substantially damaged in an accident near Fort Pierce, Florida (Harry W. Nelson airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were 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 24, 1985 · about 9:23 pm local time
- Place
- Fort Pierce, Florida · Harry W. Nelson
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 150H · all 150Hs on the register
- Registration
- N6587S · no longer on the register · serial 15067387
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
TAKEOFF RUN WAS REPORTED TO BE NORMAL. AFTER LIFT OFF THE AIRCRAFT WOULD NOT CLIMB AND ENGINE RPM WAS NOTICED TO BE 300 RPM LOW. THE AIRCRAFT DESCENDED AND STRUCK A PINE TREE AT THE END OF THE RUNWAY. THE AIRCRAFT WAS BEING OPERATED WITHIN 60 POUNDS OF THE MAXIMUM GROSS WEIGHT AND THE DENSITY ALTITIUDE WAS APRX 1200 FT. INSPECTION OF THE AIRCRAFT AFTER THE ACCIDENT REVEALED THE CARBURETOR HEAT CABLE HOUSING HAD BROKEN NOT ALLOWING THE CANLE TO MOVE THE HEAT VALVE TO THE CLOSED POSITION. THE ENGINE WAS RUN TO FULL POWER AND WITH NO EVIDENCE OF FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION. WHEN THE CARBURETOR HEAT HANDLE WAS PULLED ON THE ENGINE RPM DROPPED 300 RPM. WHEN THE CARBURETOR HEAT HANDLE WAS PUSHED TO COLD THE ENGINE RPM REMAINED 300 LOW.
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: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 100 hours in all; 44 in this make and model; 26 in the last 90 days; 60 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,657 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 22, 1985; 3 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,650 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-200-A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: X38 Fort Pierce FL at 9:21 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 18, 2,000 ft by 100 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 240° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 77°F (25°C), dew point 52°F (11°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 9:50 pm from VRB, 14 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.