Cessna 150J accident near Boca Raton, Florida, April 4, 1986
On April 4, 1986 at about 3:48 pm local time, a Cessna 150J, registered N50845, was substantially damaged in an accident near Boca Raton, Florida. It was a personal 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
- April 4, 1986 · about 3:48 pm local time
- Place
- Boca Raton, Florida · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 150J · all 150Js on the register
- Registration
- N50845 · registry record · serial 15069591
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE FLT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE OF THE ACFT'S ENG WHILE FLYING PARALLEL TO THE BEACH AND THE ACFT WAS DITCHED IN THE ATLANTIC OCEAN. INSPECTION OF THE ACFT AFTER RECOVERY REVEALED THE FOAM AIR CLEANER HAD BEEN DRAWN INTO THE CARBURETOR AIR BOX AND WAS BLOCKING THE AIR INTAKE TO THE CARBURETOR. THE PLASTIC AIR CLEANER RETAINING STRUCTURE WAS FOUND BROKEN AND APRX 70% OF IT WAS MISSING. A CHECK OF THE ACFT MAINTENANCE RECORDS REVEALED THE AIR CLEANER WAS INSTALLED IN 1980 AND THAT AN AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVE TO CHANGE THE AIR CLEANER ELEMENT EVERY 12 MONTHS OR 100 HRS WAS NOT COMPLIED WITH.
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: 60 hours in all; 13 in this make and model; 13 in the last 90 days; 20 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,332 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 2, 1985; 45 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: LNA Lantana FL at 2:10 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 100° at 11 knots, gusting 18
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 3,000 ft
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 57°F (14°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 3:50 pm from PBI, 15 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.