Cessna A150M accident near Indiantown, Florida, May 23, 1994
On May 23, 1994 at about 11:53 pm local time, a Cessna A150M, registered N9856J, was destroyed in an accident near Indiantown, Florida (Indiantown airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S IMPAIRMENT OF JUDGMENT AND PERFORMANCE DUE TO ALCOHOL AND DRUGS, WHICH LED TO HIS IMPROPER PLANNING/DECISION, AND HIS FAILURE TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE AIRSPEED DURING A MANEUVER.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 23, 1994 · about 11:53 pm local time
- Place
- Indiantown, Florida · Indiantown · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna A150M · all A150Ms on the register
- Registration
- N9856J · no longer on the register · serial A1500665
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT WAS OBSERVED DRINKING BEER BEFORE FLIGHT. AFTER THE FLIGHT DEPARTED, A WITNESS SAW THE AIRCRAFT MANEUVERING. HE SAID THE PILOT MADE A HIGH SPEED PASS DOWN THE RUNWAY, THEN EXECUTED A VERTICAL ASCENT TO ABOUT 500 FEET AGL. THE AIRPLANE THEN BEGAN TO DESCEND NOSE LOW WHILE SPINNING & IMPACTED THE GROUND. THE WITNESS REPORTED THAT THE ENGINE SOUNDED 'STRONG' DURING THE ENTIRE TIME. AN EXAM OF THE AIRFRAME REVEALED NO EVIDENCE OF A PREIMPACT FLIGHT CONTROL FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION. A TOXICOLOGY CHECK OF THE PILOT'S BLOOD SHOWED AN ALCOHOL LEVEL OF 155 MG/DL (0.155%) & 0.004 UG/ML OF TETRAHYDROCANNABINOL CARBOXYLIC ACID (MARIJUANA). TESTS OF HIS URINE SHOWED AN ALCOHOL LEVEL OF 226 MG/DL (0.226%) & 0.017 UG/ML OF TETRAHYDROCANNABINOL CARBOXYLIC ACID.
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: 202 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,504 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 10, 1994; 1 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: X58
- Destination: X58
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: dusk
- Wind: from 080° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 57°F (14°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 11:56 pm from PBI, 28 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.