Cessna 150 accident near Clinton, Missouri, December 17, 1983
On December 17, 1983 at about 2:30 am local time, a Cessna 150, registered N17297, was substantially damaged in an accident near Clinton, Missouri (Clinton Mem airport). It was an aerial observation 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
- December 17, 1983 · about 2:30 am local time
- Place
- Clinton, Missouri · Clinton Mem · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 150 · all 150s on the register
- Registration
- N17297 · registry record · serial 150073710
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial observation flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT TOOK OFF FROM PLEASANT HILL, MO TO LOOK FOR RELATIVES WHO MAY HAVE BEEN SURVIVORS OF AN OVERTURNED BOAT. AFTER SEARCHING A LAKE, HE ELECTED TO LAND AT CLINTON, MO. THE ARPT AT CLINTON WAS CLOSED FOR CONSTRUCTION & THE RWY WAS COVERED WITH SNOW & ICE. A NOTAM HAD BEEN ISSUED, BUT THE PLT WAS NOT AWARE THE RWY WAS CLOSED. WHILE LANDING ON A MOONLIT NIGHT, THE RIGHT MAIN WHEEL BROKE THRU THE SNOW CRUST & THE RIGHT MAIN GEAR COLLAPSED. THE PLT STATED THAT JUST BEFORE TOUCHDOWN, HE SAW SHADOWS FROM THE LANDING LIGHT ON UNEVEN TERRAIN. HE INITIATED A GO-AROUND, BUT THE ACFT CONTINUED TO SETTLE & TOUCHED DOWN.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 961 hours in all; 227 in this make and model; 34 in the last 90 days; 611 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,900 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, September 6, 1983; 93 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: MO08 Pleasant Hill MO
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 4, 2,800 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night, bright
- Wind: from 070° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 25,000 ft
- Temperature: 16°F (-9°C), dew point 10°F (-12°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 2:45 pm from MKC, 65 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.
Other NTSB records under N17297 the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.