- Date
- May 8, 1992, 16:00 local (21:00 UTC)
- Place
- Eldon, MO
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Enroute
- Aircraft
- N8081SCessna 150F
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report August 31, 1993
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19920508014049A
- Case key
- 15441
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
A binding exhaust valve resulting in a partial loss of engine power. Factors in the accident are rising terrain conditions, inadequate aircraft climb capability, and a ditch in the forced landing area.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The accident airplane lost partial engine power when the exhaust valve in the number one cylinder became stuck. The pilot started an emergency descent toward a forced landing area and attempted to troubleshoot the engine problem. He regained level flight over a valley floor but below the elevation of the surrounding terrain. Engine operation at full throttle resulted in less than full power output. When he attempted to climb out of the valley he was unable to maintain clearance from obstructions and terrain. He flew through and broke a power transmission line. He flew toward lower terrain and landed in an open field. He collided with a ditch during the forced landing ground roll.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N8081S
- Reported as
- Cessna 150F
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 15061681
- Airframe hours
- 6,315
- Engine
- Continental O-200-A, 100 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Clyde Ditto
- Registered owner
- Clyde Ditto
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · January 11, 1992 · 55 hours before
- Departed
- VER · Boonville, MO
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 35
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 81 total · 81 in this make and model · 54 as pilot in command · 27 in the last 90 days · 9 in the last 30 days · 1 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 180° at 5 knots
- Visibility
- 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 75 °F, dew point 36 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.00 inHg
- Observed at
- JEF, 40 nm away
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.
Other investigations on N8081S · 2
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.