Cessna 150J accident near Olcott, New York, June 24, 1987
On June 24, 1987, a Cessna 150J, registered N51333, was substantially damaged in an accident near Olcott, New York (Palmer airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was 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
- June 24, 1987
- Place
- Olcott, New York · Palmer · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 150J · all 150Js on the register
- Registration
- N51333 · registry record · serial 15069930
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
A STUDENT PILOT PRACTICING TOUCH AND GO LANDINGS EXPERIENCED AN ENGINE POWER LOSS ON TAKEOFF. DURING AN APPROACH TO AN OPEN FIELD FOR AN EMERGENCY LANDING, THE ENGINE RESTARTED. THE PILOT DECIDED TO RETURN TO THE ARPT. UPON ENTERING DOWNWIND, THE ENGINE QUIT. THE ACFT STRUCK A STREET SIGN WITH THE LEFT WING AND CAME TO REST IN A GARDEN. THE FAA INSPECTOR AT THE ACCD SITE INDICATED THAT THE HUMIDITY WAS HIGH AT THE TIME OF THE ACCD AND THE TEMPERATURE WAS ABOUT 80 DEGREES.
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
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 21 hours in all; 21 in this make and model; 3 in the last 90 days; 3 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,475 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 11, 1987
- Maximum gross weight: 1,600 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-200-A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 9, 2,525 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.